Louisiana sanitation workers strike over unfair conditions
Local sanitation workers are protesting for better wages and working conditions
![WDSU logo]()
Updated: 6:34 AM CDT Nov 5, 2021
CH:AD 5:00, EARLY ON THIS FRIDAY MORNING BUT HAPPENING RIGHT N,OW SANITATION WORKERSN I THE CITY STRIKING OVER UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES. RANDI: THEY ARE PETITIONING FOR BEERTT PAY, WORKING CONDITIONS AND A FAIR CONTRAC WITH TRASH REALLY TOP NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR US AND HERE AT HOME. ATHE ALLEN IS LIVE FOR US AT THE SCENE WITH SEVERAL OF THESE WORKERS. HEY THERE. HEATH: GOOD MORNING TO YOU. WE ARE HERE IN METAIRIE OUTSIDE OF REPUBLIC SERVICES, WHERE TEAMSTERS LOCAL70 2 NOW ON STRIKE, ON THE PICKET LINES OVER CONDITIONS THEY SAY EXIST AT REPUBLIC SERVICES. STEPHEN, PRESIDENT OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 270, WHAT IS THE SITUATION OUT HERE? WE HAVE SEENAR GBAGE ISSUES, PICK UP ISSUES ALL OVER THE AREA. WITH THE SITUATION? >> RIGHT NOW, OUR BIGGEST ISSUE IS WAGES. HAVE WAGES THAT VARY. SOME OF THESE GUYS HAVE BEEN OUARND 30 YEARS AND ARE AT THE BOTTOM E ONDF THE SCALE. WE’VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUIPMENT, GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF, AND JUST A TOTAL DISREGARD FOR UNION CONTRACTS. HEATH: YOU ARE DEALING IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE IDA, IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC. IS IT SAFE? E ARYOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF YOUR GUYS? >> YES, I AM, BECAUSE A LOT OF MY GUYS ARE PICKING UP WASTE MATERIALS AND THEY DON’T HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. WE’VE TALKED ABOUTHT IS A FEW TIMES, NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. WE ARE JUST FED UP, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THESE GUYS DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THIS COMPANY. MOST OF THESE GUYS WORKED THROUGH TWO YEARS OF THE PANDEMIC, ALL OF THEM RETURNED TEAFR THE STORM, DAN YET, WE STILL HAVE TO ARGUE FOR A DECENT WAGE, WHICH IS TALOTLY UNFAIR. >> YOU TRY TO WORK OUT WITH THE COMPANY, BUT SO FAR, NO RESOLUTION? >> NO RESOLUTION. ATHE HOW LONG YOU WILLING TO STAY OUT HERE? >> AS LONG AS IT TAKES. ATHEH: TEAMSRTEOCAL L 270 STRIKING O
Louisiana sanitation workers strike over unfair conditions
Local sanitation workers are protesting for better wages and working conditions
![WDSU logo]()
Updated: 6:34 AM CDT Nov 5, 2021
On Friday morning, dozens of sanitation workers are gathering to protest what they call unfair labor practices. The union workers are petitioning for better pay, working conditions, and a fair contract. Trash has been a topic of frustration among residents in New Orleans for months. Even before Hurricane Ida, pickup was delayed for days or weeks in some neighborhoods, leaving piles of garbage lingering on city streets. Leaders say the problem stems from finding drivers for those garbage trucks, a problem other cities across the country are seeing as well. This particular strike is from Republic Sanitation workers and members of Teamster Local 270, a union group. A spokesperson says the strike is in response to the company's efforts to cut wages for some of its longest-tenured workers and widespread equipment failures at the New Orleans facility.
METAIRIE, La. — On Friday morning, dozens of sanitation workers are gathering to protest what they call unfair labor practices.
The union workers are petitioning for better pay, working conditions, and a fair contract.
Trash has been a topic of frustration among residents in New Orleans for months. Even before Hurricane Ida, pickup was delayed for days or weeks in some neighborhoods, leaving piles of garbage lingering on city streets.
Leaders say the problem stems from finding drivers for those garbage trucks, a problem other cities across the country are seeing as well.
This particular strike is from Republic Sanitation workers and members of Teamster Local 270, a union group. A spokesperson says the strike is in response to the company's efforts to cut wages for some of its longest-tenured workers and widespread equipment failures at the New Orleans facility.
