Still no deal between garbage haulers and Waste Management.
And still no strike.
The two sides have bickered over a new labor contract for days. The old contract ended at midnight Wednesday and workers were threatening not to pick up trash.
Workers still ran their routes Thursday and Friday.
Michael Gonzales, spokesman for Teamsters Union 174, said he didn’t expect his members to picket this weekend.
Waste Management serves 75,000 households in parts of unincorporated Snohomish County as well as Arlington, Marysville, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, Brier, Mukilteo and parts of south Everett.
Waste Management is one of two companies that were negotiating with hundreds of garbage haulers who pick up trash throughout Snohomish and King counties. Allied Waste was able to reach an agreement this week with the union as well as another bargaining group, Teamsters Local 117, which represents recycling haulers.
On Thursday, Waste Management gave the union what it called its last, best and final offer. Union officials that night said they would consider it.
On Friday, union officials said the proposal contained significant changes and they wanted to negotiate with the company more.
“The idea that the company can introduce new language and throw all kinds of changes at us and expect our members to vote on a short deadline is offensive,” said Rick Hicks, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 174 and lead negotiator for the union in a statement.
The newest offer is generous and the union should give the proposal to their members, said Jackie Lang, Waste Management spokeswoman.
“It seems heavy handed to not allow employees to vote for themselves,” Lang said.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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