The Orange County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a special closed-door meeting on Friday to review new proposals for a labor contract with Teamsters Joint Council 42. This local union represents waste and public works employees across the county. The proposals were provided to the supervisors through a mediator who has engaged separately with representatives from both the county and the union.
This upcoming meeting follows a temporary suspension of a strike by Teamsters Joint Council 42, which began last week. Board Chairman Doug Chaffee noted on Wednesday that a "side deal" had been reached to reopen the county's landfills in the interim. Christian Castro, a spokesman for Teamsters Joint Council 42, stated that the union agreed to suspend its picketing as an “olive branch of good faith,” indicating a willingness to negotiate.
The hiatus means that waste haulers can now access the county’s three landfills without encountering picket lines. Chairman Chaffee explained that this development relieves pressure on temporary sites where waste-hauling companies had been storing garbage before the landfills became fully accessible. He confirmed that the landfills are now open and accessible for waste companies.
Chairman Chaffee expressed the county’s hope for productive discussions. "We’re hoping we now can have reasonable conversations instead of strikes going forward," he stated, acknowledging the uncertainty of the situation should the proposals be rejected on Friday. The current arrangement to keep landfills open is expected to last for the week.
The period leading up to the special meeting has been marked by contention between county and union officials regarding the strike's tactics. The county previously filed a complaint with the Public Employment Relations Board. This complaint alleged that picketers engaged in unlawful activities, including forming "human chains" to block traffic and disseminating false information that the landfills were closed to customers.
In response to these allegations, Teamsters officials denied the claims, asserting they were untrue. Furthermore, the union accused county officials of violating labor law themselves. Chairman Chaffee defended the county's position on the alleged unlawful picketing, noting the existence of evidence. "We have pictures and statements from (waste hauling) drivers, but I guess that’s all in our imagination," he remarked concerning the proof the county has gathered.
The Friday meeting represents a critical juncture for both parties. The Orange County Board of Supervisors will be presented with the Teamsters' proposals, offering an opportunity to potentially resolve the labor dispute that has impacted waste services and public works operations within the county. The outcome of these deliberations will determine the next steps in the ongoing negotiations, including whether the strike hiatus will continue or if picketing might resume. The aim remains to achieve a stable agreement for the county's waste and public works employees.
