PASADENA, MD — Recycling and yard waste collectors went on strike Wednesday in Anne Arundel County, protesting working conditions and pay. The work stoppage disrupted curbside collection this week in Laurel, Odenton, Pasadena and Severna Park.
Dozens of Teamsters Local 570 workers picketed outside the Ecology Services truck yard in Pasadena.
Ecology employees said they were offered a $3-per-day raise, but the Teamsters rejected that “best and final” offer.
Find out what's happening in Annapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Workers alleged that their trucks lack air conditioning and often have malfunctioning seatbelts. Some reported holes in the trucks’ floors. Others complained of insufficient protective gear.
Keon Fisher has worked for Ecology since April, throwing recycling and yard waste into the truck in service area 15. He’s never seen any goggles, and gloves are often sparse.
Find out what's happening in Annapoliswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“There’s plenty of times [that] debris flew in my eyes, and I’m trying to figure out how can I get it out, but my hands [are] so dirty [that] I really don’t wanna touch my eyes.”
Heat safety has been another concern since a Baltimore trash collector died of heatstroke last month.
Anne Arundel County had a similar heat incident, union representatives said.
The Teamsters said “a worker suffered a severe head injury after falling from their truck due to heat exhaustion and a lack of water” this past summer.
Fisher thanked residents who hand out water to collection crews. He requested that Ecology provide them with coolers and ice for their drinks when it’s hot.
“It’s 104 degrees outside, and we can’t even get in the truck to cool off for a minute,” said Endia Spriggs, a thrower of two years on Ecology’s route 8. “They do not supply us with water, ice or coolers. We have to bring all that ourselves.”
Curtis Henry has driven for Ecology since October 2010, and he serves area 15. He thinks the trucks are in “poor condition.” It took several weeks to fix Henry’s driver’s seat, he said.
The offered raise, which equates to 38 cents per hour, further frustrated Henry.
“It’s not even what we’re going to have to pay in taxes at the next upcoming year when everything goes up as it normally goes up,” Henry said. “My mortgage is gonna go up. My insurance is gonna go up. That doesn’t even cover that.”
The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works first notified customers of the labor dispute on Friday.
The county told residents in the affected areas not to expect recycling or yard waste collection this week. Household garbage collection is unaffected and is continuing as scheduled.
The DPW hired fill-in collectors to resume recycling and yard waste pickup next week, though collection days may differ from the usual schedule.
Residents were surprised to see some recycling and yard waste collection Tuesday in Odenton and Pasadena.
The DPW said “a small crew” reported for work before being called back into the yard. The Teamsters, however, said about 80% of its staff showed up on Tuesday.
Sean Cedenio, the secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 570, said the county has not responded to its safety concerns at Ecology.
DPW spokesperson Matt Diehl disputed that claim and released this statement to Patch on Wednesday:
“A Union rep reached out to DPW last month for copies of contract documents. We referred the rep to the online Public Information Act portal https://www.aacounty.org/pia and “Purchasing Division – County Contracts” to make its request. This was DPW’s only communication with the union.
“Ecology Services notified the Office of Central Services of a potential strike on 8/27. On 8/29, Ecology notified DPW that there will be a strike beginning 9/3.”
Negotiations between the Teamsters and Ecology have been underway for a few months. Cedenio said their contract expired on July 31, and the extension lapsed on Saturday.
About 70 union members are on strike, Cedenio said. They plan to picket outside the Ecology yard and discuss the issues with the community until a new contract is reached.
“Hopefully the owners will come back to the table,” Cedenio said. “These people work hard. They’re hardworking, and they deserve better.”
Patch contacted Ecology for a comment, but the company has not responded. We will update this story if we get a reply.
Service areas 5, 8 and 15 are the only affected regions. Residents can check their service area by using this tool, which works best on computers.
The DPW said it would give daily updates. Residents can follow the agency’s Facebook page for the latest details.
Related:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
Click Here: north queensland cowboys jersey