March 29, 2006
Government will get the job done! (III)

"Replacements to haul garbage if drivers strike"

The region's two largest garbage haulers are prepared to hire replacement workers if drivers go on strike, but residential service could be disrupted for weeks, King County Solid Waste Director Theresa Jennings said Tuesday.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at March 29, 2006 09:03 AM | Email This
Comments
1. Another case where we can thank Unions and Government as they screw it up again. How much should a garbage handler get paid? Not much. Any dumbo can pick up garbage.

Privatize it. We'd have efficient garbage hauling at half the cost without all of the Draconian regulations on recycling, positioning of the garbage bins, etc.

Posted by: Jeff B. on March 29, 2006 09:36 AM
2. Isn't Allied Waste part of Rabanco? I think it is already a private company. Problem here is the union, which would likely exist whether it was public or private.

Posted by: Palouse on March 29, 2006 09:40 AM
3. Somehow the terms of the negotiation are never reported. These people are being paid by the taxpayer, we have a right to know. How much are they paid? What are they asking for? I suspect they are already paid above the average in the area, and the increase demanded exceeds inflation a good percentage.

Posted by: Janet S on March 29, 2006 09:54 AM
4. www.rabanco.com
www.alliedwaste.com
1 Rabanco is owned by Allied Waste Management
2 ASM appears to be HQ in Scottsdale, AZ since that is the mailing address for Investor Relations, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers, their external CPAs, Phoenix office oversees the audit.
3 It would be interesting to know the current salary structure and what mgmt has offered

Posted by: Green Lake Mark on March 29, 2006 10:21 AM
5. they make about 24 bucks an hour. pretty good for not requiring any education...

http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=garbage28m&date=20060328&query=garbage

"A last-minute agreement averted a strike in 2000 when the companies and drivers reached agreement on a six-year contract that boosted base pay for experienced drivers to $24.45 an hour."

Posted by: f-it-all on March 29, 2006 10:22 AM
6. $24.45 an hour x 40 x 52 = plus health benefits, retirement benefits, vacations etc....
Amazing- When I was going to school a well worn phase from parents was ¨¨if you don't go to school and learn you'll end up a garbage collector¨¨

Posted by: pagar on March 29, 2006 11:27 AM
7. I don't remember how King County does it, but in Snohomish, Waste Management has a monopoly and bills the homeowner directly. I pay about $40 a month for garbage, yard waste and recycle. The only direct government involvement is the fact that Waste Management apparently has a monopoly.

Posted by: Wayne on March 29, 2006 12:06 PM
8. Yeah, tell me about it. AA degree (3.9 GPA) and 20 years at the same company, and they still make more than I do...

Posted by: MB on March 29, 2006 12:08 PM
9. Come show the Sanitation Industry what Solidarity Looks Like!

Puget Sound Sanitation Workers are in a fight for all of us
to keep Family Wage Jobs & Affordable Healthcare
Sanitation Workers BURN-BARREL BASH!
Friday, March 31st from 6 to 9 pm
at the Teamsters Hall (14675 Interurban Ave, Tukwila)
Bring your family for games, BBQ, Music, & Dancing
Bring your organization's banners and wear your colors

How about a counter demonstration. Come on down and tell the teamsters they are over paid and uneducated

Posted by: Dave Beck on March 29, 2006 04:51 PM
10. Howyousdoin'

yous think they can pick up the trash at City Hall?

Forgetaboutit

Posted by: Joey bag of doughnuts on March 29, 2006 06:37 PM
11. Back in the day the garbageman would drive up in the truck, hanging halfway out the door, jump out and manhandle our two 32 gal cans into a hopper, one in each arm. The old guy that did it looked and had arms like Popeye. Him, I would pay $24.50 an hour.

Today's garbageman sips his latte from inside an air conditioned cab and pushes a button to manipulate a robotic arm to do the heavy lifting. Every garbage day I come home to see garbage spilled all over the street.

Posted by: Organization Man on March 29, 2006 07:30 PM
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