Dive summary:
- Over two hundred Waste Management workers in Alameda County, California went on strike Friday morning to protest what they say is a violation of federal labor laws and abuse of employee rights.
- Landfill, customer service and recycling workers all gathered at 3 a.m. to start the protest, by 8 a.m. they were all back at work.
- The workers claim that Waste Management is violating federal law by threatening and intimidating employees, implementing workplace policies without bargaining with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and mistreating immigrant workers.
From the article:
The strike was not about negotiations in a collective bargaining agreement, Merrilees said. It was about the workers telling the company they won’t tolerate what they consider threats, firings and intimidation anymore, he said.
In 2012, Tucker said an internal audit discovered four employees without proper documentation for employment. They were asked to provide documentation and, after about six months, three employees did not provide documentation and were terminated, he said.
“No one is being targeted. No one is being singled out. It’s the guidance that we have, it’s employment law,” Tucker said. “To make a case this is a widespread epidemic is unfounded.” ...
