Labor Rally Supports Trash Work Strikers - Racism Alleged
There was a big labor rally in Mercer County Tuesday to support striking trash haulers who've been off the job for more than 3 weeks. "Let me tell you something Waste Management, the teamsters are like the Eagles. We're gonna blitz your shit!" It was a fiery rally for striking teamsters from Local 701 who've been off the job for 3 weeks now in a dispute with the giant trash hauling company Waste Management Inc. over wages and benefits. Ken Rice/TEAMSTERS LOCAL 701: "The raise they're offering gives you $600 throughout the year. The insurance cost is $2000 at the lowest rate. The guys would be losing 1400 dollars." Matt Popp/TEAMSTERS LOCAL 701: "We're there every day. People take us for granted but we work hard. We have families like everyone else and we need good health care." Strikers say they want the same health benefits as other members of their local who haul trash in Toms River and recently settled a contract with Waste Management. Union officials are calling the company racist for refusing to offer the same deal. Ernie Soehl/LOCAL 701 PRESIDENT "If it's the same local, the same company, you gotta answer that question yourself. They're 99% white, we're 99% black in Trenton." Company officials vehemently deny any racism. Substitute workers continue to man the pickup routes in several communities served by Waste Management. Company officials tell Action News they have begun accepting applications for permanent replacements. After today's rally teamsters picked up strike benefit checks, usually no more than $200, and filled bags and boxes with food and canned goods provided by the union. [more]