At Charlotte City Council’s September 2 meeting, its privatization committee presented a recommendation to privatize 25 percent of solid waste services. Most solid waste workers knew nothing about this effort until a few days before the recommendation. But UE Local 150’s Charlotte chapter immediately sprang into action, with Chapter President James Al Locklear speaking to the council against privatization, just before the recommendation was announced.
The recommendation came with a long written report and PowerPoint slide show. Two executives of Waste Pro USA – the company recommended to receive the privatization contract – flew to Charlotte for the meeting. At the end of the meeting, even some council members who in the past have supported the union on other issues were expressing the intention to vote for privatization on September 22.
Council meetings over the next two weeks did not include a public comment period, but as many as 12 union members attended, holding up signs opposing privatization. The union distributed over 1,000 flyers calling for “no racism, no contracting out.” Workers in the Solid Waste Services are almost entirely African American. Community organizations and leaders were recruited to support the union’s campaign.
On September 22, just before the city council meeting, council members thought the votes were there to approve privatization. But they underestimated the impact of the union’s mobilization. Over 50 workers and supporters showed up, and dressed in their orange jump suits, the workers were an impressive sight. Five workers made strong speeches, pointing out that $461,000 of the claimed $500,000 in “savings” over five years would come from selling the city’s fleet of trucks.
At the end of the meeting, the council voted unanimously to reject privatization. The Charlotte City Workers Union – UE 150 is using this victory to sign up more members, develop new leaders, and further build its strength.