Good jobs not junk jobs: Alameda County recycling workers staged a one-day strike on July 30th. They converged on Oakland City Hall for a rally and day of political action. Workers met with local and state elected officials in the afternoon. That evening, accompanied by community allies, they filled the City Council Chambers and addressed the City Council.
Over 200 Oakland recycling workers staged a powerful show of unity and action by striking on Tuesday, July 30. Employees from the City’s two recycling contractors – Waste Management and California Waste Solutions (CWS) – walked off their jobs midway through the morning shift.
Strike ’n roll
Instead of picketing in remote industrial areas where the recycling plants are located, workers formed caravans that converged downtown at Oakland’s City Hall. The result was a full day of political action and solidarity that included marches, “human billboards” along Broadway and 14th Streets, visits with local and state elected officials, and a spirited rally. The day ended when rally participants – including many community allies – filled the upper seats of the City Council chambers and addressed the City Council that evening.
Dirty dangerous work
Recycling worker Emanuel San Gabriel is one of CWS workers who left his dusty and noisy workplace behind to join the protest. He wasn’t alone, with 100% of his CWS co-workers joining the effort. San Gabriel spoke at the rally, explaining that the work they do is valuable for the community and environment –but not respected because of low pay and a lack of benefits.
Death caused by company negligence
Last year, Waste Management was charged by Cal-OSHA with violating safety rules that led to the death of a landfill worker, employed at the Davis Street facility in San Leandro where recycling also takes place. Waste Management refused to pay any fines and continues to deny responsibility for causing the worker’s death.
Dramatic display of hazards
Other workers, including many from Waste Management, used the strike as an opportunity to detail the hazards that they face each day. The dangers were made obvious with a 30’ display of typical items found on a recycling line. Mixed with the paper, plastic and glass were used hypodermic syringes, animal feces, hazardous wastes and solvents, and building materials that often contain asbestos and lead.
Strong message & media coverage
The hazard display was one of many ways that workers used to send a strong message that resonated with the public. Interviews, in most cases, were done by workers – not union officials. Signs were clear with simple messages calling for “justice” and “respect.” Workers felt comfortable talking about “corporate greed.” The result was good coverage from television, radio and newspapers – all featuring workers speaking in their own voices.
Labor violations
The job action was triggered by labor law violations committed by Waste Management and CWS, resulting in an “unfair labor practices strike.” But the concerns raised by workers went beyond the unlawful retaliation, bad faith bargaining and other violations by the companies. Nearly everyone raised the problem of disrespect – which became the common rallying cry among the predominantly immigrant workforce.
Low wages
Among the many signs of disrespect, they say, are the low wages, which amount to just $12.67 and less per hour – while recycling workers in San Jose and San Francisco are paid $20. While the low paychecks are issued by private companies (Waste Management and CWS) the City of Oakland sets the terms and conditions for lucrative contracts – which both companies are now lobbying to extend for another 10-20 years.
“We want a better life for our families,” said recycling worker Alejandra León. “We do important work for the environment and this community, and these companies can afford to treat us better,” she said.
Every worker wore the same button: “$20 by 2016!” – referring to their goal of parity with other Bay Area cities who already pay recycling workers more fairly.
Practice protests
In the weeks leading up to the strike, workers organized weekly protests in front of the Waste Management’s corporate headquarters on 98th Street in Oakland, near the airport. The effort – planned by workers themselves – attracted impressive support from co-workers who volunteered hundreds of hours of time to the cause. Good media coverage at those actions allowed workers to practice talking about Waste Management’s $800 million dollar profit last year, and the $7 million compensation awarded to their CEO. The theme of “corporate greed” used by workers at these “practice protests” became a key theme in the public messaging for the strike.
Coalition support
While workers and organizing in the workplace remains the heart of the campaign, important support from allies in the community was evident at the action. The East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (EBASE) that includes the Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy (FAME), the Sierra Club, Center for Environmental Health Coalition, Worksafe!, and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Mujeres Unidas y Activas, and many others. The recycling workers at Waste Management and CWS belong to ILWU Local 6 which is helping the workers organize their campaign.
Bi-lingual is better
While most recycling workers speak Spanish, the strike events and materials were bi-lingual, to make sure everyone understood and felt included. This became an advantage with media coverage, that attracted Spanish-language stations to both “practice protests” that led up to the strike. Translation and a mix of languages were noticeable throughout the day – building unity by reducing differences.
Steelworker solidarity
On July 30th recycling workers at the Waste Management’s recycling facility in San Leandro held a rally and demonstration. They were joined by the Steelworker’s Summer of Solidarity (SoS) caravan—a 17-day, 13-city coast-to- coast tour of Steelworker union activists and allies from across the country. The SoS caravan has been supporting local labor struggles along its tour and participating in street actions, workshops and concerts.
The Waste Management demonstration was attended by over 60 people including recycling workers, community allies, and a delegation of fast food workers from the Oakland airport who were on a one-day strike.
Legendary labor singer/songwriter Anne Feeney and Canadian hip-hop artist and union activist Michael O’Brien who were travelling with the SoS tour performed at the event. After the rally, the SoS caravan and a delegation of recycling workers went to the Oakland airport to support the striking airport workers.
Good green jobs or more junk jobs?
Oakland’s City Council will ultimately decide whether their recycling workers join the better-pay that San Jose and other cities provide, or continue to stagnate with low-wage “junk jobs” instead of the good green jobs that Oakland and other cities so desperately need.