Recology Continues Negotiations With Teamsters Over Expired Contract

[Editor's note: This story has been modified from the original posting to reflect corrections made to the contract negotiations between Recology and Teamsters 350. Patch regrets any confusion.]

Recology San Mateo County, the franchised service provider for recycling, compost and garbage collection services for most of the mid-Peninsula, including Belmont and Redwood City, is currently negotiating with its employee union on the terms to replace an expired agreement. A spokesman for Recology says both are negotiating in good faith.

These workers are employed by Recology and South Bay Recycling, and not by the individual cities or SBWMA (RethinkWaste). The cities of Belmont and Redwood City, and RethinkWaste are not involved in the labor negotiations.

Teamsters 350, which represents about 100 employees---drivers, equipment operators, clerical workers and mechanics--has three contracts with Recology, two of which expired on Oct. 23, 2013. A third contract is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2014.

There has been no threat of strike to Recology.  However, the Teamsters have taken action against SBR (South Bayside Recycling) in their negotiations.  The Teamsters have, in relation to SBR, called for and authorized a strike. This action has no bearing on Recology’ s negotiations or employees. 

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the board of South Bayside Waste Management Authority (SBWMA), also referred to as Rethink Waste, will consider authorizing the hiring of subcontracted workers if union employees work off the job. SBWMA will consider the request at a special meeting on Thursday.

The Merc also reports that Hilary Gans, Rethink Waste's facilities operations contract manager, told the board he was made aware of possible “labor unrest” at the San Carlos-based Shoreway Environmental Center in a letter from South Bay Recycling General Manager Dwight Herring, whose company runs the plant.

South Bay Recycling would pay for the replacement workers, Gans wrote in a memo.

Although the collective bargaining agreements contain a "no strike" provision, Gans wrote that the agreement does not apply to workers whose contracts have expired.

Mike Mahoney, a spokesman for South Bay Recycling, said the Teamsters' vote authorizing union leaders to call a strike is a "negotiating tactic" and added it's "unlikely" there would be any labor disruption.

Rethink Waste serves Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Hillsborough, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Mateo, San Mateo County and the West Bay Sanitary District.