Garbage Truck Drivers Honoring the Strike, Not Picking up Trash

Garbage truck drivers are supporting the strike against Waste Management that started Wednesday morning by the company’s recycling and yard waste truck drivers and returning their trucks to the company, leaving some trash cans full at the curbside.

Teamsters Local 174 spokesman Michael Gonzales said his members’ contract allows each driver to determine if they will honor a strike by another local. “I’ve been driving around and I can tell you, most of our members are honoring the strike and driving back in.”

The after contract talks between Waste Management, which collects Woodinville’s recycling, garbage and yard waste, broke down last month. The 153 drivers have been working without a contract since the previous one expired on May 31.

Paul Zilly, Local 117 spokesman, said that the company has been threatening, coercing and retaliating against workers and that the strike will continue until it returns to the bargaining table. Teamsters on June 2, ending the threat of suspending local recycling service on Mercer Island.

Patch has put in calls to Waste Management officials and will update this story as soon as they respond.

--Kirkland Patch editor Greg Johnston contributed to this story.