Teamsters Continue to Lift Area Standards in the Orange County Sanitation Industry
Workers employed at Park Disposal in Buena Park won significant wage and healthcare increases after ratifying a groundbreaking contract that continues our record of increased wages and benefits in our Southern California Teamster Sanitation industry. With this agreement, Local 396 has ensured that these hard-working members retain the security of a solid middle-class job.
Sanitation workers are among the essential heroes who have worked hard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They work up to 14 hours a day to ensure that communities are kept clean and safe. The pandemic has exposed the impact that low wages have on the transportation industry. Sanitation companies throughout the United States face a shortage of drivers and realize that they must increase wages and benefits for workers to attract qualified employees. Workers are seizing on this opportunity to gain contract improvements that allow them to provide a better life for themselves and their families.
This tremendous victory was accomplished thanks to the courage and dedication of Teamster sanitation workers at Park Disposal, who stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity throughout the bargaining process. Some key highlights of this contract include an increase in wages of six dollars an hour over the five-year term of the contract, double-time pay after 12 hours of service, and maintenance of healthcare benefits at no increase to workers.
Teamsters Local 396 currently represents over 3,000 sanitation workers throughout Southern California and is the largest Teamster Sanitation Local in the U.S. Our Sanitation members serve communities throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 396 Ron Herrera stated, “The courage demonstrated by this group of essential workers who organized to win this contract is admirable. Our members stood strong and won major wage and benefit increases that will continue to lift standards in an industry that has historically exploited immigrant Latino workers. Our members have truly demonstrated the grit and tenacity with which Teamster power is built.”
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