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Okay, so a lot of Philadelphia neighborhoods (including mine) are seeing trash pile up. Trash pickup is three, even four days behind in some places. Residents are rightfully complaining. But let's take a step back for a second: Why is this happening? (a thread)
First of all, did you know that, since so many of us have been staying home during the lockdown, city residents are creating 25% more residential waste? That's a huge increase in tonnage right there!
Many sanitation workers have been going "16 or 17 days straight" sometimes "for 12 to 14 hours." And then, when they're expecting to get their overtime pay, it's not even in their paycheck! https://whyy.org/articles/philly-sanitation-workers-blame-filthy-streets-on-poor-management-apologize-for-rotting-trash/
Now, if you remember, sanitation workers — with the support of their fellow AFSCME city trade unionists — have been sounding the alarm bell for over a month now about this issue. https://www.inquirer.com/jobs/labor/sanitation-workers-protests-philadelphia-20200609.html
We held a rally decrying the lack of proper PPE given out by the city government, putting sanitation workers at greater risk of infection by COVID 19, which a number of them have already contracted, in some cases spreading the virus to their family members.
Let's not forget that trash collectors are ALREADY one of THE most dangerous jobs in America (being a cop doesn't even crack the top ten); on a good day they're at risk for needle pokes, poisoning, chemical burns and/or respiratory damage. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/27/the-10-most-dangerous-jobs-in-america-according-to-bls-data.html
But when sanitation workers spoke out about unsafe working conditions, about how the city cut their hazard pay during the lockdown when the pandemic was still ramping up, what did management do? Did the bosses fix the problem?
No. Instead, they SUSPENDED the workers who were speaking up! This is unreal! Now we're spending our efforts fighting back against retaliation instead of what we need to do, which is getting our workforce moving as a unit to get the trash up off the ground.
So what are politicians saying is the solution? Hiring outside corporate contractors. The politicians have been trying to do this since the 1990s, back when Ed Rendell was mayor. Privatization is a terrible idea; it would drive up costs, and lower safety standards.
We need every city resident to loudly OPPOSE these buster politicians looking for an excuse to push privatization of city jobs, so they can hand out lavish city contracts to their campaign contributors.
Especially if you live in the northeast! If you live in the 10th district, you need to call up @ONeill4NEPhilly right now and give him a piece of your mind!
As the temperature rises and we enter the dog days of summer, please keep in mind that the hard-working men and women of our Streets Department, Sanitation Division are out there in ninety-some degree heat, slinging tons and tons of the waste that WE create.
A little patience and sympathy toward these workers is not too much to ask. Please let your neighborhood sanitation workers know they have your support!
