Strike Ends: Waste Management Drivers Ratify Contract

Waste Management drivers voted to ratify a new six-year contract Thursday, ending a weeklong strike that affected about 120 home just north of Lake Ballinger in Edmonds.

The strike also left trash and recycling piled up in numerous cities.

A news release from Teamsters Local 117, the union representing the yard waste and recycling truck drivers, said the drivers would begin resuming their pickup service to King and Snohomish counties later today.

Garbage truck drivers, memher of Local 174, which honored the 117 picket lines, returned to work Thursday morning.

The union's leadership had fully recommended contract approval, according to the release.

“This deal recognizes Seattle-area recycle and yard waste drivers for the tremendous job they do in performing difficult, dangerous work that protects the public health and the environment,” Tracey A. Thompson, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 117, said in the news release. “Recycling is our future. We thank our drivers for their critical role in keeping our cities clean and for helping to make our region one of the leaders in the industry.”

Edmonds Patch Editor Brian Soergel contributed to this report.