September 24, 2014: Private sanitation is a growth industry—and as demand for a green economy expands, recycling is a growth industry too.

 

The Teamsters represent 30,000 members in the waste industry. But most private sanitation workers are nonunion.

 

The two top companies in the industry, Waste Management and Republic, are among the largest Teamster employers and control the majority of the waste and recycle industry.

 

Organizing drives in waste—and strategic campaigns to win strong sanitation contracts—can grow our union’s membership and strengthen our bargaining power in this core industry.

 

The IBT Organizing Department has scored some wins in waste. We need to build on this organizing and coordinate bargaining against these corporate giants. The goal can’t just be more members, but winning strong contracts that raise standards across the industry.