Threat of a Garbage Strike

Josh Pringle
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

The threat of a garbage strike for businesses and light industry is now looming over Ottawa this summer.

The union representing 65 waste haulers and landfill employees employed by Waste Management are threatening to go on strike by the end of the month if a contact is not finalized.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says its members voted more than 95 per cent in favour of job action in as little as 17 days to push back a proposal from Waste Management to claw back benefits.

CUPE local President Dan Sauve tells CFRA News that after five days of negotiations, the only outstanding issues are wages and a proposal from Waste Management to cut benefits by 25 per cent.

The union represents workers who collect garbage at businesses and light industry across Ottawa, and recycling from apartment and condominium buildings.

Sauve says "nobody wants a strike," but the union can't accept the proposed concessions.

CUPE has sent a letter to local businesses and industries in Ottawa, Kanata, West Carleton, Stittsville, Gloucester, Rideau and other areas warning them of the impact of a labour dispute, which could come by the end of the month.