Berkeley Curbside Recyclers new Contract includes modest gains, no losses, many unresolved issues.
Submitted on Sat, 11/11/2006 - 12:54pm
Last month, one dozen recyling drivers and loaders at the Ecology Center (in Berkeley California), approved their latest IWW Union contract. The recyclers are part of Municipal and Utility Service Workers Industrial Union 670, and the shop has been part of the IWW since 1989. Next door, the Berkeley Community Conservation Center's Buyback Recycling Shop has been with the union since 2000.
The new contract includes several modest gains, including:
- a 3% Across the Board increase in hourly wages, retroactive to January 1, 2006 and an additional 3% ATB wage increase effective January 1, 2007.
- All recyclers, including loaders, receive a guaranteed 8-hours pay for each shift worked. Previously only drivers received that benefit.
- All recyclers, including loaders, shall receive reassignment bonuses. Previously only drivers received that benefit.
- Confusing language regarding employee status with numerous conflicting categories, such as "probationary", "temporary", "full time", "part time", and "short hour" has been replaced with clear, solid language with three well defined categories of "regular", "on call", and "probationary".
- New, probationary employees recieve "peer review" from their fellow workers, removing some of the hiring power from management.
- Recyclers receive a modest increase in periodic work boot allowances.
- All regular employees who work a minimum number of shifts receive full health care & dental coverage.
- Now teams can receive weight bonuses whereas previously only solo drivers received bonuses.
The contract also has no significant concessions. The biggest concession demanded by management was an increase in individual Health Care co-payments from $5 to $35 per visit and/or prescription. The Union managed to fight that demand.
However, many challenges remain, and the Recyclers will have to address sseveral unresolved issues before this contract expires on December 31, 2007, including:
- Pension Benefits
- Bringing wages on par with the City of Berkeley sanitation workers (represented by SEIU 790)
- Adjusting working conditions to new, more automated equipment that will replace lifting bins by hand with lifting bins with a lever truck so that there is no loss in employment or pay.
- Making sure that the Ecology Center's service contract with the City of Berkeley provides ample pay and compensation for the union employees.
All of these issues will be addressed and discussed before the next round of contract negotiations.
Meanwhile the Recyclers have several pressing issues at present, including several greivences against management that have been on hold during the last few months of negotiations.
Here is the new contract compared to the previous contract, minus the special extension negotiated in 2001 (which affected wages, vacation pay, and pensions).
For more details and or questions, contact the Bay Area Genberal Membership Branch of the IWW.