An update on the trash talks going on east of San Francisco in Alameda County, where Waste Management has locked out 500 garbage truck drivers since July 2nd.
Amidst accusations that more affluent neighborhoods were getting regular pickup service by replacement workers, leaving others to languish as block dumps, on Friday state legislators introduced an emergency bill in Sacramento that would allow cities to declare a public health emergency in the case of a garbage stalemate, where they could commandeer garbage trucks and/or hire locked out workers or another contractor, at the expense of the original company.
“Enough is enough,” said assemblywoman Loni Hancock, whose district includes Berkeley and parts of Oakland. “I find it completely unacceptable for trash to remain uncollected and left to rot in the streets. This is creating a public health crisis and it’s time to take out the trash.” Hancock compared garbage pickup to police and fire, calling it an essential service for public health and safety.
Talks between the labor and management resumed yesterday but after 12 “slow and tedious” hours the parties came to no resolution, meaning service will remain spotty at best. As of Friday the city of Oakland had received more than 2,300 complaints from residents regarding trash pickup.
