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Teamsters Local 174, representing garbage haulers in the greater Seattle area decided not to go on strike at midnight Wednesday, despite having voted to authorize the move and saying they were prepared to follow through. Issues over pensions and the length of the contract had come up in talks over the last couple of weeks, and the union prepared to strike if an agreement was not reached by yesterday, when the previous contract expired. However, both sides say progress was made in talks Wednesday evening and, as such, the union decided to put off a potential strike, saying they would prefer not to have to do so, and will use it only as a last resort. Negotiations are with both Allied Waste and Waste Management companies - Allied Waste and the Local have now successfully reached an agreement but talks continue with Waste Management, and some are resentful of the 100 or so 'volunteers' the company brought in in preparation for a strike.