Sides in garbage strike to meet with federal mediator

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=790330

By DON WALKER
[e-mail]
Posted: Sept. 2, 2008

Negotiators for both Waste Management and the Teamsters Local 200 agreed Tuesday to meet next Tuesday with a federal mediator.

The union, representing an estimated 240 Teamsters, walked off the job last Tuesday. The workers’ contract expired April 30.

The talks next week will be held at the offices of Federal Mediation and Conciliation and will be overseen by mediator Gary Lisiecki.

The two sides met last weekend but failed to reach an agreement.

The walkout has affected garbage collection in thousands of residential and commercial accounts in Kenosha, Racine, Ozaukee, Washington, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

The main sticking point has been the company’s desire to offer an alternative to the union’s Central States Pension Fund. The union is opposed to that, and says they have offered an alternative pension plan similar in form to the fund operated for UPS workers represented by the Teamsters.

Waste Management resumed collecting waste and recyclables from its customers this week. The company is using replacement drivers from around the country. The union has charged the replacement drivers are not experienced in handling routes and garbage pickups.