(EL CAJON, Calif.) – Drivers and maintenance facility workers represented by Teamsters Local 683 have voted overwhelmingly to ratify their latest agreement with Waste Management. The new contract covers over 200 workers at the company.

“Congratulations to all of the workers who ratified the most recent contract,” said Local 683 Secretary-Treasurer Todd Mendez. “I’d especially like to thank our negotiating committee – Hector Espinoza, Edgar Molina, Eddie Miranda, Gustavo Mitre and Sonni Ine.”

The new agreement was negotiated over a period of about three months. It is the second contract that the workers have had since organizing five years ago, and it includes a number of substantial improvements. In addition to increasing wages, it increases the company’s contributions to pension and health care costs and provides for an additional layer of protection for workers during disciplinary procedures that may result in termination.

Hector Espinoza is a member of the negotiating committee who has worked at Waste Management for over 20 years. He said that going through the process for the second time made him and his coworkers more engaged in the collective bargaining process.

“This is the first time I’ve done this,” Espinoza said. “Getting the feeling of what happens in negotiations, seeing the back and forth, I appreciated more of what goes into bargaining. Overall, it was a win-win situation. We didn’t take any steps back; everything we got is a step forward.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

 

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