Sanitation Workers Reject Contract Offer

Sanitation workers Friday rejected a new contract with six Orange County trash contractors, setting the stage for a strike Monday morning.

A contract negotiated with help from federal mediators was rejected by more than 700 sanitation drivers, mechanics and maintenance employees represented by Teamsters Local 396, against the advice of their union leadership.

The contract would have increased salaries by 33% over five years, starting with a $1-an-hour raise in the first year. It also offered substantially increased health benefits.

“We are extremely disappointed that, in these difficult times, our drivers would turn down such a contract offer,” said Bob Coyle of Waste Management Inc., which hauls trash in eight Orange County cities.

But sanitation workers, who earn $12.90 an hour, complained that they are underpaid and are seeking a bigger immediate jump in salary.

“The workers have a lot of pent-up hostility because they have received inadequate wage increases in the past,” said Danny Bruno, Teamsters Local 396 representative, who had strongly encouraged the membership to accept the offer. “In a large metropolitan area as rich as Orange County, these guys rightfully feel they should already be making $16 an hour.”

There were no immediate plans late Friday to resume negotiations. Union officials said they hope federal mediators will get talks going again. Meanwhile, company executives were reviewing their emergency operating plans.

Disruption of service will stretch across the county, though some of the companies affected say they have contingency plans and promise the trash will get picked up. Others said residential customers may have to get their garbage to the dump themselves.

“We do not anticipate picking up residential trash during the work stoppage,” said Wendy Bright, spokeswoman for Taormina Industries, which serves several north Orange County cities.

Fountain Valley, which is served by Rainbow Disposal, warned residents in a statement Friday night that “it is very likely residential trash pickup would not be able to continue during the dispute.”

Waste Management hopes to continue operations in Santa Ana, Orange and La Habra, with supervisors and management people.

The cities Waste Management serves in south Orange County and unincorporated areas are not covered by the same labor contract and would not be affected, officials said.