Protracted labor dispute in public sector: Potential for extended strike may result in €100,000 daily expense for MHKW
Garbage Meltdown in Solingen: What Happens if the City's Waste Management Strikes for a Week?
Let's face it, folks, the labor dispute in Solingen's public sector is heating up, and the talk of strikes in the City of Blades has us all on edge. Experts warn that such work stoppages could last up to a week, particularly in waste collection and the waste-to-energy plant (WtE). But what transpires when the trash ain't collected for days, and the WtE plant has to take a vacation?
Over the last few days, talk of dumpsters has invaded Solingen airwaves: For four days, waste bins remained unemptied due to a warning strike by the service union ver.di, leaving waste management in a pickle. Luckily, employees of the Technical Operations Solingen (TOS) are back at it. Nevertheless, those in charge at the city and TOS are looking over their shoulders at a potential escalation of the conflict.
"If there's another strike, we could been in heaps of trouble," says TOS CEO Ralf Weeke, "with at least a week of disruption." Concern is rising that the situation could get chaotic again, especially if it leads to a sympathy strike if mediation between the federal government, municipalities, and unions fails.
A sympathy strike is a punch the unions can throw to ensure their wage agreement is Final Bloody Round. If it comes to that, the unions would decide in a secret ballot to completely stop working, and that could lead to some pretty un-pretty consequences for Solingen.
"The operation of the WtE plant would then be a major headache," explains Martin Garth, Technical Operations Manager of TOS to the Solingen local press, "A strike at the WtE plant could cost the city a boatload of euros - Almost 100,000 euros per strike day," Garth continues. The WtE plant supplies numerous households and also Solingen's municipal hospital with district heating generated by waste incineration.
But a longer strike would also affect the waste bunker of the WtE plant: It can only be optimally supplied with around 480 tons of waste per day. After three days of full strike, the bunker would be bone dry, significantly reducing the furnaces' operating capacity. In this case, heating oil would have to be procured as an emergency measure to maintain a minimum operation — but that would also mean shelling out a lot more greenbacks.
If the WtE plant were forced to shut down completely, it would be a disaster for Solingen. While some cheeky local politicians have already suggested involving private disposal companies, there are significant hurdles. "Few companies have the right equipment to navigate Solingen's topography and yard structure," explains Ralf Weeke.
Many special vehicles are needed in the city, and not every company has them. Additionally, disposing of the waste would be a challenge since many incineration plants in the surrounding area are also affected. "Most service providers don't have the manpower to handle this kind of situation," says Garth.
Meanwhile, tension among Solingen locals continues to grow. During the recent warning strike, there were countless complaints from residents. "Hundreds of calls per day" reached TBS, according to Weeke. The people of Solingen are uneasy, frustrated, and pissed off. "It's the trade unions' prerogative to strike, but this lengthy warning strike seemed a bit over the top to me," Weeke concludes.
It seems like this could just be the start, though. If there's no breakthrough in the next negotiations, TBS representatives expect the strikes to be extended. Better start reheating those leftovers, folks — it might be a while before the garbage truck rolls up to your place again.
- The potential strike could pose significant financial implications for Solingen, especially in the realm of personal-finance, as a prolonged shutdown of the WtE plant could cost the city over 1 million euros.
- The city's budgeting process may need to accommodate unexpected expenses in light of the garbage meltdown, such as the procurement of heating oil or hiring private disposal services, in the case of an extended strike.
