East Bay trash workers strike for 5 hours

[alp227]

Source: SF Chronicle

East Bay garbage workers waged a five-hour strike against Waste Management early Friday, saying the company illegally retaliated against employees involved in union activities by firing them for not proving their status as legal U.S. residents.

Trash pickups were halted when hundreds of picketing workers gathered at 3 a.m. outside Waste Management's Alameda County headquarters on 98th Avenue in East Oakland, the Davis Street Transfer Station in San Leandro and the Altamont landfill. They returned to work at 8 a.m.

"They made their point," said Craig Merrilees, spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents the clerical, landfill and recycling workers. "They showed the company that they're not going to be pushed around and tolerate any more abuse."

Teamsters Union members who drive garbage trucks honored the picket lines, so some trash pickups were missed, Merrilees said.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/East-Bay-trash-workers-strike-for-5-hours-4357629.php

[davidpdx]

1. Oakland's new slogan

Oakland, smellier than ever!

(I have good reason to rag on the city, I was born there)

[socialist_n_TN]

2. I love this outbreak of "solidarity unionism". Unfortunately.......

it's only happening in certain localities. It needs to spread. The form of "business unionism" that's been practiced in this country for the last 80 years or so has destroyed the working class.