09:58:28 04-Jul-2009
BRIEF: 38 union workers lost jobs, Teamsters say
Oct. 1--A top Teamsters official said this morning that 38 members of the union are out of work because Waste Management replaced them during the strike of trash haulers.
Tom Benvenuto, business agent for Local 200 of the Teamsters, confirmed that 38 workers are now jobless.
"It's a raw deal," Benvenuto said.
Striking trash haulers walked off the job Aug. 26, but voted on Sunday to accept a new, five-year contract dating back to April 30.
Lynn Morgan, a Waste Management spokesman, would not confirm how many Teamsters are out of work, but did say they were replaced by workers who were hired by the company as permanent replacement workers.
"While the majority of employees are returning to work this week, unfortunately some will have to wait because their former jobs have been filled by permanent replacement workers," Morgan said in a statement.
"Those who have been replaced are still employees and are on a preferential waiting list for available openings."
Benvenuto said the workers were eligible for unemployment compensation.
The contract the workers accepted included wage and benefit increases. Union members also will be put into a new 401(k) fund and will pull out of the financially troubled Central States Pension Fund.
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2008-10-01 15:42:38 (last modified)