The union representing San Diego’s trash collectors is against a proposed ballot initiative that would allow the city to privatize garbage pickup. A representative said outsourcing would hurt the local economy.
San Diego City Attorney Jan Goldsmith is proposing an amendment to the City Charter that would let San Diego dissolve its trash collection department.
He said the move could save the city about $34 million a year.
Joan Raymond is president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 127 in San Diego. She said the garbage truck drivers her union represents are likely to be paid less by a profit-making company.
“It wouldn’t be good for the local economy because you’d be laying off workers who have a pretty decent job and replacing them with workers who have a low paying job,” she said.
Goldsmith said there may not be enough time for his proposal to meet the August 6th deadline to appear on the November ballot. The city cannot disband the department without voter approval.
