[olympiaworkers] Local garbage haulers approve strike authorization

Hundreds of unionized garbage haulers in King and Snohomish counties voted
Sunday to give their top negotiator the authority to call a strike if a
contract dispute cannot be settled later this week.

By Amy Martinez

Seattle Times business reporter

Hundreds of unionized garbage haulers in King and Snohomish counties voted
Sunday to give their top negotiator the authority to call a strike if a
contract dispute cannot be settled later this week.

The authorization means a strike could be called as soon as midnight on
Wednesday, when contracts covering garbage haulers for more than 1 million
local homes and businesses expire.

"We do not believe a strike would be good for the Local or members of the
community," said Michael Gonzales, spokesman for Teamsters Local 174,
which represents more than 450 garbage haulers for Waste Management and an
additional 100 or so for Allied Waste.

"But at this point, it seems to be where the companies are pushing us,"
Gonzales said.

If Local 174 strikes, so would about 300 members of Teamsters Local 117,
which won't cross the picket line.

Local 174 has asked for a federal mediator to help in its contract talks
with Waste Management and will begin another round of negotiations with
Allied Waste later Sunday afternoon, Gonzales said.