The Teamsters Local 174, garbage truck drivers from King and Snohomish counties, Washington, voted today to authorize a strike, though both sides continue to hope for a solution through negotiation in the next few days. The contract for Local 174 expires at midnight March 31st, and as of today, no new contract has been agreed upon between the union and Waste Management and Allied Waste Services. If a contract is not agreed upon, a strike could begin as early as April 1, and both waste companies are already working on contingency plans for trash removal. Recycling workers and yard waste workers, represented by the Teamsters Local 117, have already pledged to honor 174 picket lines if a strike does occur. The main issues encountered have been over wages and health care and pension benefits. Negotiations with Waste Management will take place under the eye of a mediator beginning today, while no mediator has been called for in talks with Allied Waste.
See "Teamsters Local 174, garbage truck drivers, vote to authorize a labor strike", Dennis Box, Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 28, 2010