September 22, 2008: For the second time in three days, members of striking Teamsters Local 200 rejected a contract offer from Waste Management.

Sunday’s vote was 199-24. On Friday, union members voted unanimously to reject the five-year contract offer.

As a result, Waste Management said it would withdraw an offer it said included higher wages and benefits, as well as a plan to move Teamsters from the Central States Pension Fund to a new 401(k) plan.

“The contract on the table was fair to everyone,” said Lynn Morgan, speaking for Waste Management. “The employees would have taken home market-leading pay and benefits and gained better protection from the Teamsters’ failing pension fund.”

Morgan said the offer will be modified to provide “scaled back wage increases and health benefits.”

The company, whose drivers pick up trash and refuse in a six-county region, also will begin the process of hiring permanent replacement workers, which Morgan said Waste Management had the legal right to do.

Click here to read more at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.