S.F. Garbage Collectors Walk Out

The first garbage strike in 57 years left residents peering into full trash containers Thursday as garbage company managers scrambled to empty hospital, hotel and other commercial bins.

“I’m not bummed yet, but check with me in a week. I might be bitter then,” said Tom Kearney, who lives in the city’s Sunset district.

More than 500 garbage collectors stayed home or picketed after rejecting an offer from Norcal Waste Systems, which operates Sunset Scavenger Co. and Golden Gate Disposal and Recycling Co.

Virtually every business and home is likely to be affected, although company officials vowed to keep on schedule by using company supervisors as drivers.

“We worked through the night,” Norcal spokesman Robert Reed said. “And we’ll work through the weekend if we have to.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Willie Brown, Board of Supervisors President Barbara Kaufman and other city officials met with garbage company management and the union in an attempt to seek a solution.

“There is no reason at the moment for any crisis,” Brown said.

The mayor said he would declare a state of emergency no sooner than Saturday and also offered to sweep the streets himself.

Workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31, said Robert Morales, secretary-treasurer of International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Sanitary Truck Drivers and Helpers, Local 350. The union voted 95% to 5% to strike Wednesday night.

The main sticking point in the contract was over pension improvements, he said, adding that the job’s demanding physical effort resulted in many injuries to workers older than 50.