ILWU Rally Includes Frustrated Workers At Davis Street Dump

Unionized garbage workers and community supporters rallied outside the local offices of Waste Management on Monday in a contract dispute involving workers who sort recycled materials at the recovery center at the foot of Davis Street.

The rally was held by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union outside the regional offices of Waste Management on 98th Street, near the Oakland Airport.

The union represents about 200 workers in Alameda County including more than 85 who sort the plastic, paper, metal and other discards in the waste stream at the Davis Street Material Recovery Complex in San Leandro.

ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees said the company has delayed negotiating new contracts with workers who do dangerous and dirty jobs while it rewards executives with big pay packages.

Waste Management spokesman David Tucker said the company continues to bargain in good faith while it pays its workers among the highest wages in the industry.

Monday's rally involved different workers than the Teamster drivers who were locked out by Waste Management in 2007 in a dispute that caused a mess in many local cities.

But Merrilees said Teamster leaders attended Monday's rally and pledged their support in an effort to speed up the talks.