Westminster : Attorney Walks Out of Sanitation District Talks

An attorney representing employees of the Midway City Sanitation District walked out of contract negotiations Friday morning and pledged not to return until after elections for district board members are held on Nov. 3.

James Harker left the bargaining table after the district offered a wage increase of 2.5% and the employees union, representing 46 workers, dropped their counteroffer to 7%. “Our impression is that the board of directors seems to have a lack of direction and we don’t have any confidence in the current composition of the board,” he said.

Harker said the union would work to defeat incumbent James Evans and a ballot proposal supported by Evans that would submit any proposed rate increases before the voters. Evans couldn’t be reached for comment.

The 46 employees, including trash collectors, sewer cleaners and maintenance workers, went on a three-day strike earlier this month, returning when the district made a 1% wage increase offer to open negotiations. Pay scales range from $6 to $11 an hour, and some board members have stated that any salary hikes would have to be financed with the help of a loan, despite a recent increase in residential collection rates from $2.75 to $4 a month.