Garbage collectors with the private company Turtle Island Recycling are considering joining the Canadian Union of Public Employees — the same union that represented City of Windsor employees who lost the work six months ago.

The city outsourced the work to Turtle Island after a bitter strike two years ago, saying the switch would save the city more than $1 million a year.

Jim Wood heads the CUPE local for the city employees who were reassigned from garbage collection to other jobs because of the outsourcing.

Wood said he can envision a time when they could be called on again to do the work, but the city no longer has a fleet of garbage trucks. It sold them to Turtle Island Recycling.

"None of the 43 garbage collectors and recyclers lost their employment," said Wood. "They're still working — they're over at Parks and Recreation doing other jobs — cutting grass, forestry, horticulture, arena work. So I guess if push came to shove and they needed the job to get done again, we could take those workers back and put them on the job."

There are about 30 Turtle Island employees in Windsor, Ont., and 400 outside the city. None of them are unionized.

Mayor says union vote doesn't affect city contract

Mayor Eddie Francis said the city's contract with Turtle Island has certain provisions that cover what would happen if the company was ever involved in a labour dispute, but said talk of unionizing is between Turtle Island and its workers, and will not affect the city's seven-year contract with the company.

"I'm cautious because the last thing I need to do is get involved with CUPE trying to organize a workplace, and then for them … to use anything that I say as an opportunity to try to further whatever their objective may be."

Turtle Island fights to stay union-free

Lou Anagnostakos, Turtle Island CEO, said this isn't the first time unions have approached his employees in the last 20 years. His plan is to meet with his workers again Wednesday afternoon to explain why things should stay as they are. Anagnostakos said wages and benefits are on par with the industry.

"Our focus is to give the men as much information as possible on the benefits of staying independent," he said.

Anagnostakos said he has no experience with collective bargaining agreements and couldn't say how unionizing would affect his costs.

The CEO said he has been getting emails all morning from Windsor residents.

"It's incredible to hear the support and the gratitude of the residents and especially when they talk about the level of service and how happy they are with the new crew ," Anagnostakos said. "They're absolute rock stars in Windsor. The servce is incredible."

Anagnostakos said he doesn't understand the politics behind the union drive.

"I'm sure there's a lot of frustrated people," he said. "I'm just focusing on getting the word out to our men right now, making sure that we continue to provide the absolute best level of service."

Workers will vote on whether to approve CUPE as their bargaining agent on Friday morning in Windsor. The certification bid is being organized from Toronto. The Ontario Labour Relations Board will supervise the vote.

City, residents pleased with service

Mike Palanacki, the city's executive director of operations, said he's "extremely pleased with the Turtle Island service, and he's hearing the same commentary from the general public.

"We've had very few complaints, so all in all, it's been a very positive experience for us," said Palanacki.

Residents have been saying they appreciate how their recycle bins are neatly stacked and turned upside down after a pick-up, he said.

"That was a nice little touch, you know, that I personally appreciate," added Palanacki.

Residents agree that there's been no change in their level of service, and they don't seem bothered by the idea of the city's private garbage collectors joining CUPE.

"I don't have a problem with it. No. I've never had a problem with garbage pick up either," said Nancy Bonk, a downtown resident.

Palanacki said he's not concerned about the CUPE bid to certify local Turtle Island workers. Whether or not the private company's workers organize, the contract states that garbage service must be provided on residential streets, and if prices go up at the end of the contract, it can be retendered, he said.

City of Windsor employees still pick up some garbage for condominiums and some business improvement associations.