The threat of a garbage strike got St. Croix trash haulers exactly what they wanted: the ear of the government.
After a meeting on Thursday with Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II and Department of Public Works officials, trash haulers backed off their pledge to stop picking up the government’s garbage. Earlier this week, the haulers said they would strike because they are owed almost $1 million by the government and because of a decision by Public Works to cut house-to-house trash collection from two days a week to one.
The representatives of Dan’s Trucking, Paradise Waste Management Systems, Bates Trucking and Fergutrax met with government officials Thursday. According to Lloyd Daniel of Dan’s Trucking, the meeting put everything back on track.
Lt. Gov. James guaranteed the companies that he would see that monies promised to haulers in a March contract are delivered, while Public Works has rescinded its decision to cut back on service. The haulers were concerned that reducing pickups from two days a week to one would mean their crews would have more work to do in less time.
"It was well overdue," Daniel said of the meeting. "We’re satisfied. We’re actually encouraged."
At the meeting with James and Acting Public Works Commissioner Wayne was Assistant Tourism Commissioner Pamela Richards, who explained the impact a strike would have on island tourism.
The threat of a strike follows actual job actions in the summer of 1999 and earlier this year. The 1999 work stoppage ended after James appropriated approximately $420,000 and arranged new hauling contracts. The strike last February saw trash pile up at dumpster sites around St. Croix after more than a week. That stoppage was also resolved after James marshaled the government’s team through negotiations with the haulers.
