Garbage workers returned to work July 30th at Waste Management of Alameda County.
Workers beat back Waste Management's challenge | Four Week Lockout Ends In Defeat For Teamsters

On July 2nd, Waste Management Inc. locked out 500 members of Teamsters Local 70 in Alameda County. Non-union drivers were hired to collect garbage in the affected areas.

As the lockout continued, rotting trash piled up in some of the East Bay communities that were served by the unionized sanitation workers: Albany, Emeryville, Oakland, Hayward, Newark, Livermore, the Castro Valley Sanitary District, Oro Loma Sanitary District in parts of San Leandro and San Lorenzo, San Ramon, and unincorporated Alameda County.

While the Unions worked to organize political and community support, the Teamster and Machinist hardship funds geared up, and some members were eligible for unemployment benefits. The lowest-paid employees, who are the recycling, clerical and landfill workers in ILWU Local 6, did not qualify for unemployment and were not eligible for strike fund benefits. Under their current contract, they earn $11-14 an hour. A fundraising Solidarity Breakfast was held on Monday, July 30th.

The Central Labor Council of Alameda County asked all union members and public officials to honor the picket lines and support the workers by joining picket lines. The Picket lines were at Alameda County Waste Management Authority (172 98th Avenue in Oakland), Davis Street Station (2615 Davis Street in San Leandro) and Altamont Station (10840 Altamont Pass Rd in Livermore).

Photos | Read More With PDF Flyers | Announcement for July 21st Picket | 7/30: Waste Management Inc. Campaign -- Solidarity Breakfast

Trash, and solidarity, grow | Community & Workers Picket Waste Mis-Management | As garbage ripens, Waste Management locks out 500 workers | Waste Management Refuses to Preserve Labor Peace During Contract Negotiations | SFist: Garbage In, Garbage Out

AlamedaLabor.org