More than 140,000 residents in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon will have to make do with disruptions to their waste collection due to a garbage collectors’ strike in Peel Region.
Labour negotiations broke down between the union and one of Peel Region’s two private collection companies Wednesday evening with workers hitting the picket lines Thursday morning.
“We just want a fair deal. We want fair wages. We want benefits. We just want to be treated fairly,” union member Kyle Marchand said outside the company’s main office in Mississauga.
The labour dispute involves the waste management company Emterra Environmental and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 183.
“Last night we expressed our commitment and willingness to sit down and bargain to prevent a strike from occurring. It is clear that Emterra had no intention of negotiating with us and did not even reply to our request to return to the bargaining table after our members rejected our last settlement offer,” Director of Government Relation for Local 183 Jason Ottey told reporters.
The union, which represents 140 members, said they want a similar deal that Progressive Waste Solutions struck with its employees.
“All we’re looking for is parity with Progressive that has one third of the region. We feel it’s fair and we’re more than willing to negotiate terms that get us to parity in a reasonable way. We can’t do that if they’re not willing to sit down and talk,” Ottey said.
A statement released by the private collection company late Wednesday night said it will not discuss terms of the labour talks in public.
“It has also been our longstanding practice not to negotiate contract terms through the media out of due respect for our staff and the process,” Emterra Environmental said. “We remain committed to our customers and residents and will do our utmost to minimize the impact on them.”
But the company said on Thursday it is encouraging the union to return to the table “so we can continue meaningful negotiations with the goal of providing the safe and reliable service the people of Peel have come to expect.”
Peel Region officials said more than 60 per cent of Peel curbside households may experience waste collection delays as a result of the strike.
The areas affected by the labour disruption include:
Brampton: West of highway 410 and north of Bovaird Dr.
Mississauga: West of the Credit River and Fletcher’s Creek
Caledon: All areas
Officials said that residents who receive waste collection services from the Region’s other collection contractor, or live in a multi-residential building, should not be affected.
Those in the areas impacted by the strike are being reminded to follow their regular collection schedule and to leave any missed collection material at the curb or bring it to a community recycling centre.
“The Region of Peel asks residents for their patience as all efforts will be made to pick up waste in a timely manner,” officials said in a media release.
Residents are also being told that the by-law against illegal dumping will continue to be enforced.
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