Trash Haulers Strike Spreads

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

The trash haulers strike spread on Wednesday, as workers from two Montgomery County contractors struck for fair working standards. Click here to send an email to Montgomery County Council members urging their support. Workers at Potomac Disposal joined those at Unity Disposal and Recycling who began their strike Tuesday (Trash Haulers Strike for Fired Worker 10/16 UC) to demand the reinstatement of a worker who was fired after speaking up at an anti-union meeting Friday evening. The workers at Unity report that the company used immigration status intimidation to try to quash their demands for union representation. They are in the midst of organizing to obtain affordable health insurance and fair wages. The Potomac Disposal workers have received the last and best offer from their employer, and it still doesn’t include affordable health insurance. “Both sets of workers are striking to raise the work standard in Montgomery County to one that includes affordable health insurance and fair wages,” said Nicole Duarte of the Mid-Atlantic Laborers. The striking workers are contracted by Montgomery County to collect trash in Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, Rockville, Bethesda, Wheaton, and Potomac.