Politics & Government

Teamsters Agreement Maintains Recycling Service on Mercer Island

The city's waste and recycling provider Republic Services reached agreement with recycling truck drivers from Teamsters Local 117 on terms for a new 5-year contract.

Teamsters Local 117 formally ratified a 5-year collective bargaining agreement with Republic Services on June 2, ending the threat of suspending local recycling service on Mercer Island.

The union has been in negotiation with local recycling waste drivers employed by Waste Management and Republic Services for several months. Mercer Island contracts with Republic Services (formerly known as Allied Waste) on a long-term contract to collect garbage from the Island's businesses, multi-family complexes and single-family homes, and also provides curbside collection of recyclables and yard waste.

Mike Huycke, Northwest Area President for Republic Services, commended both sides for the high level of integrity and respect demonstrated throughout the process.

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“Labor negotiations can require an extraordinary amount of effort from all who are involved,” said Huycke. “As negotiations were underway, we saw an incredible amount of patience, understanding and collaboration between Republic and Local 117. We feel the process culminated in a fair and reasonable agreement for both the company and for the men and women who serve our communities.”

Negotiations between Republic and the Teamsters Local 117 occurred over a six-week period.

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In a Teamsters press release issued earlier in May, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 117 Tracey A. Thompson said its members had voted unanimously at a May 12 to go on strike, if necessary.

“Recycle and yard waste drivers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep our environment clean," he said. "This vote demonstrates that these workers are 100% committed to achieving a contract that reflects the important public health service they provide to our communities.”

The Teamsters Union remains in negotiations with Waste Management, which serves several other Eastside cities and Northwest and South Seattle.

Huycke thanked and shared the good news with his team on Monday morning.

“Our team’s contributions and collaboration were instrumental in coming to a mutually beneficial agreement, and we were committed to preventing a disruption in service to our customers and municipal partners,” he said. “These negotiations are an example of the productive working relationship we have with Local 117.”

Huycke concluded with an acknowledgement of employees’ dedication to “do the right thing for all involved: for our customers, for our company and for our employees.”


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