Taking it to Waste Management Shareholders

Two Local 174 Waste Management members, (D.J.) Thomas (South Sound)and Jeff Michalak (Northest) attended Waste Management's annual Shareholder Meeting in Houston Texas May 3rd to protest the giant firm's attacks on workers including slashing health benefits for members of local 813 in New York who have been on strike since April 3.

The two Local 174 members met with members of Local 813, New York and Local 639 in Washington D.C. "There was a lot of information sharing between the locals, and good media coverage," Michalak said. Thomas said, "Our brothers in New York told us Waste Management is spending at least $22 million on strike breakers and surveillance of our picketers, but it would cost them less than half a million dollars....$53 per driver...to settle that strike."

Teamster members joined by supporters from other unions held a demonstration outside the shareholders meeting which attracted substantial attention from the press and the public. A Teamster proposal to elect the Waste Management Board of Directors by majority vote instead of plurality was passed by the shareholders. Teamster speakers also criticized Company CEO David Steiner's $1 million bonus in 2005 for "improving company performance."

Steiner was forced to respond to issues raised by the Teamsters both during the shareholders meeting and afterwards in the press. Michalak said that getting together with other Waste Management Teamsters from across the country was especially valuable. "It's a good way to see what the company is doing and what might be coming our way, and makes us all stronger if we're all working together," he said. "I think we should be doing this on a regular basis from now on."

 

Get Advice Join TDU Donate

Recent News

Yellow Terminals Sold for $1.9 Billion – XPO and Estes are Big Buyers

Most of Yellow’s terminal properties closed at auction on December 4, with XPO the biggest buyer, paying $870 million or nearly half of the $1.9 billion that the 128 properties yielded. XPO bought 28 properties and Estes bought 24.

Online Workshop: From Contract Campaign to Contract Enforcement

Hear from UPS Teamsters and guest speaker Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien about moving from contract campaign to contract enforcement this Sunday, December 10 at 12 PM EST/11 AM CT/10 AM MT/9AM PT. Register now.

View More News Posts