Labor union workers on strike against Waste Management 

MONTEREY COUNTY, CALIF. (KION-TV)- Workers for Waste Management went on strike early Monday to vent their issues with the company.

One of the biggest issues that laborers of LiUNA! Union 270 was the workplace environment. Luis Arguello is the Assistant Business Manager for Local 270. 

“Committing unfair labor practices against our members within the bargaining unit,” Arguello said. “This has had a chilling effect on their constitutional and statutory rights. And it's something, you know, we take very seriously.”

He says they have brought their concerns to the company many times.

“However, it's just been repeatedly done,” Arguillo said. “We have various unfair labor practices that we have filed through the NLRV, which is the federal government.”

According to Waste Management, the two parties met in January but weren’t able to reach an agreement.

They responded in a statement saying in part quote:

“The Company is disappointed that the Union chose to strike before we were able to meet with the Federal Mediator as scheduled. Although we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached, considering these events, the Company is currently evaluating all its options to determine how quickly service can resume in whole, or in part, as safely as possible.”

The union also made clear their strikes won’t interfere with the debris cleanup in Pajaro.

Waste Management also stated that the union canceled negotiation dates in February for the two sides.