The union representing county landfill employees has filed an unfair labor practice charge against the Flathead County Solid Waste District over a change in work schedules.
Union workers also recently voted to go on strike if the grievance can’t be resolved to their satisfaction.
Local 400 of the International Union of Operating Engineers represents about 18 to 20 landfill workers, including garbage truck haulers, landfill equipment operators and green-box site supervisors.
The complaint stems from the county’s decision to unilaterally switch the schedule of most landfill workers from four 10-hour shifts to five 8-hour shifts per week starting in early April, without providing the union an opportunity to bargain about the change, according to Craig Davis, the union’s business agent.