Low wages are responsible for the labor shortage behind the accumulation of garden waste Action News Jax

[ad_1]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla .– Curbside recycling was scrapped on Monday after Mayor Lenny Curry announced the city would be halting collection to focus on yard waste instead.

Action News Jax told you this last week when the city made the announcement and blamed an ongoing labor shortage for missed pickups.

Ronnie Burris, trade manager for Local 630 of the International Union of Workers of North America, said it was a wage shortage that created the problem.

>> LINK: Notice to Jacksonville Residents! No selective collection from Monday

Many employees lost their jobs during the COVID-19 shutdown and made more money on federal and state unemployment benefits than they made at work, Burris explained.

Now it’s gone and people are starting to come back to work, he said. You have to have something to offer them to keep them.

A senior garbage truck driver earns up to $ 41,000 in Jacksonville. Employees in the back of the truck earn about $ 34,000.

They don’t stay. They are leaving because they can go and earn more money elsewhere, he said. The jobs aren’t as bad, it’s not as hard, it’s not as hot, and it’s not as smelly.

Buris told Action News Jaxs Robert Grant that a CDL driver can earn up to $ 80,000 at companies like Amazon and Walmart, which also offer benefits and pensions.

The low salary also increases the turnover. Burris said lower-level employees stay for less than two years on average.

Several years ago, municipalities started outsourcing solid waste to companies like Waste Management and Waste Pro.

The city of Jacksonville has contracts with Waste Pro, Advanced Disposal Services, and Republic Services.

In July, companies faced a total of $ 502,250 in combined fines for missed pickups.

They have big problems everywhere and that’s because there is no loyalty from these big companies, Burris said.

He suggested that municipalities stop outsourcing work.

RELATED STORIES:

2021 Cox Media Group

[ad_2]