Arbor Hills Landfill workers strike continues as Advanced Disposal rejects counter-proposal

NORTHVILLE, Mich. – A strike by Arbor Hills Landfill workers is ongoing after Operating Engineers Local 324 submitted a counter-proposal Friday that was rejected by Advanced Disposal, the union said.

UPDATE: Arbor Hills Landfill workers strike ends after agreement reached with Advanced Disposal

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Union officials offered to meet and negotiate over the weekend, but, according to the union, company officials have not responded. 

Workers began striking Monday because they have been without a contract with Advanced Disposal for more than a year. Members of Operating Engineers Local 324 said that wages and benefits at Arbor Hill are well below those for comparable jobs at other landfills.

The union wants pay and benefits in line with other Metro Detroit landfills. The union claims that Advanced Disposal workers earn 25 percent less than other landfill workers in southeast Michigan.

The union has filed two unfair labor practice claims with the NLRB and won the right to picket for the first violation. The second complaint is pending.

"After the company spent an entire year dragging out contract negotiations and violating labor practices, workers had no choice but to strike," said Douglas Stockwell, Operating Engineers 324 business manager and general vice president.

Advanced Disposal ended striking workers’ health care on Monday and hired 12 security workers, according to the union.

“Many of the workers at Advanced Disposal have dedicated years to the company, despite being vastly underpaid, and now are left without health care for their families," Business Agent Josh Beaton said. "It’s clear that this billion-dollar company can afford to pay workers what they’ve earned, as they’re paying replacement workers double what their longtime employees made."

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