Labor Talks Present Challenges For Haulers

摘要

Labor negotiations are not for the faint of heart.rnThousands of solid waste workers around the country are represented by unions, and negotiations for new labor agreements can be difficult for both sides.rnAttorney Thomas N. Toscano knows all about labor negotiations as lawyer for Mr. T Carting Corp. in New York City. His company went through a five-day strike in 2006.rn"Your ability to get what you want will be directly related to your ability to withstand a strike," he said during a session on preventing and dealing with labor strikes at Waste Expo recently in Chicago.rnKeys to dealing with a strikerninclude having effective labor counsel, security and replacement workers, he said.rnWhile companies should have these tools at their disposal, he said, they also must be fair.rn"You have to bargain in good faith. That doesn't mean you're not allowed to bargain hard," he said.rnToscano also suggested keeping emotions out of the picture when negotiating a new labor deal. "You don't want to win the battle and lose the war," he said. "Be scientific about this. Keep your emotions out of this."