Saint John stops all garbage collection, blames striking inside workers

The City of Saint John has halted all garbage, compost and recycling collection, citing "illegal strike activities" by some of its workers.

About 140 clerical, administrative and support staff — members of CUPE Local 486 — went on strike two weeks ago over wages. 

On Tuesday, the city said that for the second day in a row, picketing workers have prevented garbage trucks from moving. 

The city had already suspended the collection of compost and recycling, a move announced on Sept. 18. 

Brittany Doyle, president of the Local 486, said the city's news release about garbage collection is "absolutely misleading."

She said union members have been compliant with police. The trucks haven't been moving as freely as usual, she said, but they have been moving and did get out on Tuesday.

"It's really unfortunate that the city keeps putting that narrative out there to the citizens, that, you know, garbage is halted because of illegal picketing activities," said Doyle.

"It's disheartening because the situation that we're faced with is a situation that the city put us in."

The release from the city said the blocking of trucks is "completely unacceptable behaviour as Local 486 does not offer this front-facing service to the community."

Doyle said this statement from the city is inaccurate because the local has the right to picket any secondary location or any city asset.

"That is exactly what we have been doing," she said.

CBC News requested an interview with the city. A spokesperson acknowledged the request and was looking into it. 

In the release, Mayor Donna Reardon said the city "operates on a two-week collection schedule for most customers, which means that if crews cannot collect on schedule, residents can now expect to have garbage piling up at their homes for a month, or more."