ST. CROIX — The head of the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority is optimistic about ongoing contract negotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers following a vote by union members to authorize a strike at WMA after first providing a three-day notice.
Roger Merritt Jr., WMA executive director, who confirmed his staff are not on strike at this time, said today that the Office of Collective Bargaining is negotiating a new contract with the union representatives on behalf of the Authority.
“We’re all about supporting our staff and making sure that they have salaries that are commensurate with the work that they do,” he said.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 2725 have overwhelmingly voted in favor of authorizing a strike at the Waste Management Authority, IAM announced in a press release issued last Wednesday.
The union indicated the decision to authorize a strike is a direct response to “stalled negotiations and unsatisfactory contract proposals” that have persisted since the last contract expired in 2019 with no raises and no back pay.
“After careful consideration and with a unified voice, our members have decided that the offer on the table from VI Waste Management Authority is not acceptable,” Craig Martin, IAM Southern Territory general vice president, said in a statement. “We stand together in seeking a fair resolution that adequately rewards the hard work and dedication of our members, who are instrumental in maintaining the cleanliness and health standards of the islands.”
Merritt disagreed that WMA employees have not received pay raises since the last contract expired in 2019. He clarified that he authorized significant salary increases in 2021.
“There’s a false narrative here,” he said. “In 2021, I authorized raises and retroactive pay through a stipulation.”
Merritt acknowledged that there has been a delay in the negotiations with the IAM union and the Office of Collective Bargaining relative to the contract for WMA employees due to the multiple government agencies OCB represents when it comes to approving collective bargaining agreements.
“It’s just taking them some time,” he said. “We’re kind of working with them on their schedule, so that’s part of the reason why there’s been a delay.”
Now that the IAM union members have voted to authorize a strike at the Waste Management Authority, Merritt said he expects OCB to resume negotiations with union representatives. He is optimistic both parties will reach an agreement.
“I do think we’re going to work it out,” Merritt said. “I talked to the union representative over the weekend, and he said, ‘everyone trusts me as a director, and they know I’m going to make sure I do what’s in the best interest of the staff,’ so I think it’s going to work itself out.”
According to the Virgin Islands Code, employees of the Waste Management Authority are classified as Class II bargaining units, the union noted. In the event of a strike, Class II employees must provide a three-day notice. IAM clarified that its membership would decide on a potential strike date.
IAM represents approximately 87 waste management workers in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
“The concerns of IAM members revolve around the offer from VI Waste Management Authority, which falls short of addressing the critical issue of wage increases across the board,” John Vigueras, IAM Southern Territory special representative, said in a statement. “Workers’ welfare is not just a perk; it’s a necessity for operational success, and it’s high time the government and management recognize that fact.”
Vigueras said the IAM members should not have to take on second or third jobs to support their families.
“They are the ones keeping paradise clean, and they deserve fair wages and their overdue contract,” he said.
The union noted in its press release that it has urged the VI government over the years to prioritize workers and bargain in good faith. IAM included a link to a previous press release from September 2023 announcing that its members in the territory who worked in waste management and at public hospitals called on the government to end its delay in labor negotiations as well as in processing labor charges for essential public employees. IAM noted at the time that the WMA contract expired in 2019, while the contract for health and hospital workers expired in 2021. IAM further noted that it routinely takes the Public Employees Relations Board up to two years to process labor charges. The union called on the government to take immediate steps to adequately fund the Office of Collective Bargaining and PERB and negotiate fair contracts for the public sector employees.
The union noted in its press release issued last Wednesday that its advocacy efforts have brought the issue to the attention of all Virgin Islands senators, with most of the elected officials expressing support for IAM members in achieving a contract that ensures fair wages, benefits, and work rules. The press release includes a link to video statements given last September by Senate President Novelle Francis Jr. and Senators Franklin Johnson and Milton Potter. The senators made their remarks when the IAM members working with WMA and at the territory’s public hospitals called on the government to end its delay in labor negotiations. All three senators discussed their support for the union and OCB to complete negotiations that result in fair wages for the union members.
The IAM union has garnered support from other labor unions in the Virgin Islands, which are also experiencing similar issues with delayed contract negotiations.
“Our members receive wholehearted support from the IAM and our labor allies on the island, all of whom are prepared to mobilize if a contract fails to address our members’ priorities,” Martin said.
