The jist of it is this:
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They are being asked to do extra job responsibilities they are not paid to do
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They did not get and aren’t getting the bonus they were promised during the beginning of the pandemic
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In response, Durham paid a private trash pickup instead (GFL) to pick up trash this week, likely at the last minute
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Not all residents receive trash pickup services (me included), so I know from my own bill that those services cost $90-$100 per quarter per household
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Recycling pickup is tomorrow, still unresolved
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the city of Durham has a budget surplus, and we already don’t have consistent policing, EMS response, and the access to health care, and guaranteed police work including detectives (however you feel about the cops – and I agree with you – it’s still worth pointing out)
The UE150 North Carolina Public Workers union is documenting it all including the budget, screenshots of employees calling out, the GoFundMe for lost wages on Twitter
There is also an early video of the strike with people on the front lives explaining directly.
WRAL article on it. The local paper has a very annoying pop up demanding an account (free) to see this article and any other