A mound of garbage sits outside a waste facility in Toronto, where CUPE civic workers, including garbage collectors, have been on strike since June 22. (Lorenda Reddekopp/CBC)

A union involved in the Toronto municipal workers strike says private companies, such as the one created by two P.E.I. men, are weakening its leverage.

Last week, after about 24,000 Toronto workers including garbage collectors went on strike, brothers Bill and Bob Hennessey of Charlottetown started up a garbage collection business in Toronto's north end, charging a minimum of $50.

Pat Daley, spokeswoman for CUPE Local 416, said the move shows disregard for the striking workers and hurts their cause.

"You're able to put pressure on politicians who are negotiating with us through public anger because the services that they rely on that our members provide have been withdrawn," said Daley. "And when somebody else comes in and does that work, it's really strikebreaking."

Private garbage collectors also give momentum to politicians looking to privatize the public service, and that frustrates union members, Daley said.

"They don't like it because they have to deal with that pressure all the time anyway. It concerns us when we see private operators getting a foothold into what is, in a sense, a very important public service."

The union hasn't spoken with the Hennessey brothers or any other private garbage collectors.

Bill Hennessey told CBC News on Monday he doesn't see himself as a scab, just someone who wants to help Torontonians.

The strike has virtually shut down all city services, including garbage collection, city-run daycares, parks and recreation programs, and regular ferry service to the Toronto Islands.

In 2002, a Toronto municipal strike lasted two weeks until the province issued back-to-work legislation.