Public input sought on garbage strike

The state commission that oversees the garbage industry has scheduled a meeting in Woodinville on Thursday to gather public comments about service during the trash strike that ended last week.

The meeting comes just after the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission’s announcement that it had opened a formal investigation into Waste Management’s ability to serve its customers during the eight-day strike by Teamsters drivers.

So far, the commission has received more than 50 customer complaints.

“Most of them were complaining about the missed pickups,” commission spokeswoman Amanda Maxwell said.

Part of the commission’s investigation will focus on whether Waste Management restored service more quickly to cities that contract directly with the company for service than in unincorporated areas where the state oversees trash collection. A common strike-related complaint has been having to pay the full trash or recycling bill for the days that customers went without service.

There is no deadline for finishing the state investigation.

Thursday’s meeting at Woodville City Council Chambers is the only public forum the state has planned to discuss service during the strike.

The program begins at 4 p.m. with a Waste Management presentation about its strike-response strategy. Customers have a chance to comment starting at 5 p.m.

People also are encouraged to submit comments by phone, mail, email or online.

The strike began July 25, when more than 150 yard-waste and recycling drivers from Teamsters Local 117 took to the picket lines over the failure to forge a new six-year contract. Garbage drivers soon joined them in support. Service was affected for more than 200,000 residential and commercial customers in Snohomish and King counties.

The picket lines extended briefly to a Skagit County facility, affecting service in north Snohomish County and on Camano Island.

Without its union drivers, Waste Management brought in new workers from outside the region. The company focused on commercial routes, particularly those with facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and day cares that have the biggest impact on public health.

Union drivers began to return to work Thursday, after agreeing to accept a new contract. On Saturday, the company put extra trucks on the road to collect on residential routes missed earlier in the week.

“We’re pretty much all caught up now except for a couple of small pockets,” Tim Crosby, a district manager for Waste Management, told the Snohomish County Council during an update Monday.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

Comment on strike

Waste Management customers are invited to comment in person Thursday on service during the recently concluded Teamsters strike.

Where: Woodinville City Council Chambers, 17301 133rd Ave. NE, Woodinville, 98072.

When: Presentation by Waste Management at 4 p.m.; public comment at 5 p.m.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is conducting the meeting as part of formal investigation into trash service during the strike. The commission also accepts written comments at PO Box 47250 Olympia, 98504, online comments at www.utc.wa.gov, e-mailed comments at comment@utc.wa.gov or phoned-in comments at 888-333-WUTC (9882). People may call the same number to determine whether they are a UTC-regulated customer.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.