As if we needed more proof of the unimaginable greed of unions. The trash collectors in Seattle Washington currently make over $26/hr. Think about that. Trash collectors. I'm not knocking their jobs, it's an important one. $26/hr though, that is absolutely ridiculous.

What's worse, the Teamsters union has rejected a deal from WM that would give everyone a 3.7% pay increase. Unions in this country are out of control. I hope that WM does not give into the unions. Note that 1,600 people have inquired about being hired for replacement.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2010/04/seattle-trash-collectors-make-average.html

The Teamsters Local 174 says it has chosen not to accept Waste Management's 'best, last, final offer."

Union spokesman Michael Gonzales said the Teamsters have submitted a new proposal with "significant movement," and have no plans to strike.

Waste Management's five-year offer includes a wage increase of $1 per hour in the first year, bumping up the current pay rate of $26.29 per hour by 3.7 percent.


In addition, Waste Management said it is offering a one-time $1,000 bonus to each employee if the contract is ratified by April 3.

"By attaching an artificial deadline, it looks like they're trying to ram a bad contract down the sanitation workers' throats," said Brent Barrett, a yard waste driver.

By the last year of the contract, the average driver's annual compensation will reach $109,553, Waste Management said, and the company will contribute more than $15,000 per year to each employee's pension fund.

I'm moving to fucking Seattle Washington.

This is why companies have moved out, and America is a 2nd or 3rd rate country at the moment. Our economy can't return to levels it was at with unions forcing this kind of shit upon major corps.

Wow. And people still defend unions.

tk421 wrote: I'm moving to fucking Seattle Washington.

not if i get there first!

Everybody does better when everybody does better...

Schools, health care, retirement, etc...

Ahhh the propaganda generation.

irish_buffalo wrote: Everybody does better when everybody does better...

Schools, health care, retirement, etc...

Ahhh the propaganda generation.

That's right, everyone in America should make 100K, then there would be absolutely no problems in this country.

Another stupid union move.
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100406/NEWS16/4060419

irish_buffalo wrote: Everybody does better when everybody does better...

Schools, health care, retirement, etc...

Ahhh the propaganda generation.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need. - Karl Marx

Ahhhh the propaganda generation.

"By attaching an artificial deadline, it looks like they're trying to ram a bad contract down the sanitation workers' throats," said Brent Barrett, a yard waste driver

A bad contract?!! WTF

Fuck the unions.

My wife is a nurse and doesn't make $26/hr. But a stinking(pun intended) garbage truck driver does? Wow...somethings freakin wrong...

I'm going to be the Devils Advocate here. Lets break this down.

$26.29 x 40 = $1051.60 x 52 = $54,683.20

This is the wage that a person has to live on. keep in mind that the cost of living in Seattle is about 26 percent higher than it is in Columbus Ohio. If you adjust that figure, it would look like this:

26.29 x .74 = 19.46 x40 = 778.40 x 52 = 40,476.48.

Average compensation packages also include heath care (about 20,000) pension costs (about 15,000) and social security contributions (about 11,000 or 20 %). The compensation package also includes vacation and sick pay ( 3 weeks vacation and 5 sick days (5,000) and payroll tax match (about 5,000).

I know this won't change many of your minds, but this is not a HUGE amount of money for a job in Seattle Washington.

And if you still thing that is expensive, Imagine if the Government takes over and controls the program.

Sorry DA, but with the way things are now, I cannot believe that somebody/groups would be willing to go on strike when they have a job that will pay for a living.

I lived in Cali, I know what it takes to live on the west coast.

Sure, if you want to be a sole provider of a family, live in a gated community, and buy a new car every 2 years, that amount of money will not be enough.

CenterBHSFan wrote: Sure, if you want to be a sole provider of a family, live in a gated community, and buy a new car every 2 years, that amount of money will not be enough.

Awww... C'mon you cant do that anywhere in the US on 50 grand a year.

Devils Advocate wrote: I'm going to be the Devils Advocate here. Lets break this down.

$26.29 x 40 = $1051.60 x 52 = $54,683.20

This is the wage that a person has to live on. keep in mind that the cost of living in Seattle is about 26 percent higher than it is in Columbus Ohio. If you adjust that figure, it would look like this:

26.29 x .74 = 19.46 x40 = 778.40 x 52 = 40,476.48.

Average compensation packages also include heath care (about 20,000) pension costs (about 15,000) and social security contributions (about 11,000 or 20 %). The compensation package also includes vacation and sick pay ( 3 weeks vacation and 5 sick days (5,000) and payroll tax match (about 5,000).

I know this won't change many of your minds, but this is not a HUGE amount of money for a job in Seattle Washington.

And if you still thing that is expensive, Imagine if the Government takes over and controls the program.

They are garbage men! $40k is too much as well!

Rejecting a 3.7% raise is my problem with the situation. If they have previously agreed to $40k per year and the employer felt they brought at least an equivalent value to them, so be it. For the employer to offer a 3.7% raise and have them turn it down!!!!! ...well ,negotiations would be over were I the employer.

So... let me get this right. It is wrong for the government to decide how much a CEO makes. But ok for you all to decide how much a trash man makes?

Don't get me wrong. I think that labor unions have gotten way out of hand as exampled by the auto industry and the teacher unions.

But a trash service IS an essential public service. I do not believe that I have seen anyone complaining about the police or fire fighters unions.

Where was it written that if you have a dirty or shitty job that you should not be able to make a decent wage.

Con_Alma wrote: Rejecting a 3.7% raise is my problem with the situation. If they have previously agreed to $40k per year and the employer felt they brought at least an equivalent value to them, so be it. For the employer to offer a 3.7% raise and have them turn it down!!!!! ...well negotiations would be over were I the employer.

This I can agree with.

Devils Advocate wrote: So... let me get this right. It is wrong for the government to decide how much a CEO makes. But ok for you all to decide how much a trash man makes?

...

Nope. That's not it at* all.

It is very much O.K. for the employer to decide how much the employees make. ..and they will ultimately.

We are simply expressing our opinion on it. We are not deciding how much they make.

Devils Advocate wrote:

CenterBHSFan wrote: Sure, if you want to be a sole provider of a family, live in a gated community, and buy a new car every 2 years, that amount of money will not be enough.

Awww... C'mon you cant do that anywhere in the US on 50 grand a year.

I know. Extreme meets extreme. That's my point.
If the people who make that income cannot find a way to live within their means, it is their problem, not the employers.

My father is currently a director of Public Utilities for a city in Ohio, and he has dealt with the Public Works folks and their union on numerous occassions.

And, while not to this extent, he has had similar experiences. He can't stand them, and is hence a subject of extreme dislike amongst those employees.

He recently had to fire an employee because the union would accept modest pay cuts.

So much for "taking care of their own."

Devils Advocate wrote: I'm going to be the Devils Advocate here. Lets break this down.

$26.29 x 40 = $1051.60 x 52 = $54,683.20

This is the wage that a person has to live on. keep in mind that the cost of living in Seattle is about 26 percent higher than it is in Columbus Ohio. If you adjust that figure, it would look like this:

26.29 x .74 = 19.46 x40 = 778.40 x 52 = 40,476.48.

Average compensation packages also include heath care (about 20,000) pension costs (about 15,000) and social security contributions (about 11,000 or 20 %). The compensation package also includes vacation and sick pay ( 3 weeks vacation and 5 sick days (5,000) and payroll tax match (about 5,000).

I know this won't change many of your minds, but this is not a HUGE amount of money for a job in Seattle Washington.

And if you still thing that is expensive, Imagine if the Government takes over and controls the program.

Great post, but I do not think the average poster on here has a clue about what you are talking about. Most probably have no idea what their own total compensation is.

Devils Advocate wrote: I'm going to be the Devils Advocate here. Lets break this down.

$26.29 x 40 = $1051.60 x 52 = $54,683.20

This is the wage that a person has to live on. keep in mind that the cost of living in Seattle is about 26 percent higher than it is in Columbus Ohio. If you adjust that figure, it would look like this:

26.29 x .74 = 19.46 x40 = 778.40 x 52 = 40,476.48.

Average compensation packages also include heath care (about 20,000) pension costs (about 15,000) and social security contributions (about 11,000 or 20 %). The compensation package also includes vacation and sick pay ( 3 weeks vacation and 5 sick days (5,000) and payroll tax match (about 5,000).

I know this won't change many of your minds, but this is not a HUGE amount of money for a job in Seattle Washington.

And if you still thing that is expensive, Imagine if the Government takes over and controls the program.

That hourly rate stood out like a sore thumb didn't it? Figures don't lie; liars figure. Made the whole thread seem biased.

The whole thread was bi assed.(). That's why I started posting. I said I was Devils Advocate (literally)

However turning down a contract with a 1000 dollar bonus and a better that 3 % increase is ludicrous in today's economy.

On the other hand, these guys work their asses off. I have witnessed near aerobic work in all kinds of nasty weather. I don't think that 40 grand a year is too much. I know I wouldn't do it for that,

If you wouldn't pick up garbage for $40,000 a year, then that means either you have other options or you are lazy as fuck. Many of those people don't have any other options, and it is ridiculous that they make that much money and turned down a 3% raise. Any idiot can pick up garbage.