California Signed Senate Bill 1371 to Protect Sanitation Workers

Closing the Force Majeure Loophole for Waste Haulers

Municipal contracts with waste collection companies typically feature force majeure clauses. These provisions protect operators from financial penalties when natural disasters or major emergencies prevent them from fulfilling trash collection duties. However, according to Teamsters California, corporations frequently classify labor strikes and union disputes under the same force majeure umbrella.

Senate Bill 1371 closes this legal loophole. The statute ensures sanitation companies can no longer shift the financial burden of employer-caused strikes onto local municipalities and workers. “For too long, waste companies have gotten away with making communities and unions foot the bill for employer-caused strikes,” said Peter Finn, Co-Chair of Teamsters California.

Impact on Southern California Contract Negotiations

Over 3,000 waste workers in Southern California, represented by Teamsters Local 396, are actively bargaining new labor agreements with major private haulers, including Republic Services and Waste Management.

“Waste companies always try to turn the public against workers who are forced to strike for better conditions — even when the employers cause the strike and keep getting paid for collections that aren’t happening,” said Mike Di Bene, a 15-year Republic Services driver represented by Teamsters Local 70.

Industry Power Shift and Next Steps

With the signing of Senate Bill 1371, union leaders contend that the state has leveled the negotiating table between municipal governments, local communities, and major sanitation corporations.

“SB 1371 takes the power from billion-dollar haulers and puts it in the hands of union waste workers,” said Victor Mineros, Co-Chair of Teamsters California and Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division Director.