Negotiations Continue In Garbage Lockout

OAKLAND, Calif., Jul. 18, 2007 (KGO) -- One day after an Alameda County judge ordered Waste Management to pick up the garbage, or face possible criminal sanctions, some parts of Oakland still haven't had their trash removed. It's now at the point where County Vector Control is on patrol to look for rodents.

Wednesday marked third negotiating session overseen by a state mediator. Both sides say progress has been made, and negotiations will continue Thursday.

A Waste Management spokesperson tells ABC7 that they now have five hundred replacement workers on the job, and are scrambling to meet a judge's demand that they clean up Oakland.

At Waste Management of Alameda County's Davis Street intake facility, company officials claim their workload is close to pre-lockout levels, or roughly 24 to 25 tons per day. The recycling unit is buzzing along as well, with replacement workers sorting paper and bottles, at a steady pace.

Jack Isola, Waste Management: "We're working as a company to get things back to normal. We're feeling the normalcy creep in here at the facility."

Replacement workers are doing their level best to make the rounds required, but garbage continues to still sit on the streets in Oakland's Fruitvale district.

Tabe Gibson, Alameda County Vector Control: "We're trying to suppress or look for any evidence of rodents, or look for a situation where this might be attracting rodents."

While Vector Control advises residents to take their own garbage to the dump, negotiations resumed between waste management and the teamsters, one day after a judge ordered the company to clean up Oakland or else.

Ron Dellums, Oakland Mayor: "I'm very pleased that the courts backed our play, because now we have the potential of criminal as well as legal sanctions in this situation."

Laura Anthony, ABC7 News: "We went into one neighborhood where County Vector Control is actually advising residents to take their own garbage to the dump.

James Devlin, Waste Management: "I'm not aware of that one. But I do know that we're running all the routes necessary, and we're getting caught up now, and we appreciate everybody's patience."

Waste Management tells ABC7 that they are honoring their commitment to dispose of waste for Oakland residents, without a fee, provided proof is shown that they are customers.

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