From left to right: Vincent Daniels and Willie Brown (Public Works), Mayor Leonardo Williams, Gerald Woody and Montrell Perry and George Bacote (Solid Waste), Councilman Mark-Anthony Middleton
On the first day of Black History Month, February 1, 2024, members of the Durham City Workers Union, UE Local 150, from the Departments of Solid Waste and Public Works met with Mayor Williams and Mayor Pro Tempore Middleton to discuss their demands for the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget, to be voted on in June 2024.
George Bacote, speaking for sanitation workers, started off the meeting by sharing the difficulties that workers face such as working two jobs and many being unable to afford the skyrocketing rent costs in Durham. Bacote also raised the issue of lengthening routes, which are likely to add even more work on the over-stretched workforce.
The union reiterated their demand to raise wages to $25 per hour with a special emphasis on workers in Solid Waste and Public Works, who have been the main workers speaking out and participating in UE Local 150 actions. Workers also demanded that Solid Waste Operators be reclassified to a new job title to recognize the special skills they have beyond being “Maintenance Technicians”. Christopher Benjamin recommended the title of “Sanitation Engineers”.
Durham's city government has hired the Logic Consultant Group to put together a compensation study with recommendations on pay for city workers. The City Council does not have a release date, but claims the study should be out in mid-February or March. The city is hosting a Budget Retreat on February 16 and March 1 at Lake Mist from 8:30am - 4:00pm. UE Local 150 is encouraging workers to take off work to attend. The compensation study should be released on that date.
During the meeting with Williams and Middleton, workers also reiterated the need to think bigger about where to find tax revenues to fund the needs of workers and the community.
This article was published first at UE Local 150
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