Rahm Accuses Garbage Men of Blue Flu

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 28, 2011 3:00PM

Mayor Rahm Emanuel released records yesterday he claimed show a "pattern of abuse" regarding chronic absenteeism by garbage collection crews on Mondays and Fridays.

The records Emanuel cited, culled from a 13-month period that ended Aug. 31, showed an average of 40 garbage collectors from the a workforce of 600 had unscheduled absences on Mondays, an average of 6.6 percent of the workforce. On Fridays, that number was 27 unscheduled absences, or 4.5 percent.

A press release from the Mayor's Office indicated the absenteeism charts would be updated monthly to hold workers accountable to city taxpayers. “As the city faces unprecedented financial challenges, I am committed to protecting the taxpayers and spending every dollar with the absolute certainty that we are providing residents with the services they depend on at the lowest possible cost," Emanuel said.

Whether Emanuel is using the charts to hold garbage men accountable for their absenteeism, embarrass them for ostensibly making unofficial three-day weekends for themselves or is using the data as ammunition to possibly privatize garbage collection is anyone's guess at this point.

Laborers 1001 business manager Lou Phillips disputed Emanuel's numbers in a statement. Phillips said the numbers are inflated by lumping together employees who call in sick with those on duty disability and restricted duty.

“These people are the best laborers in the world. Are there bad apples in every bunch? Yes. But, I state at my meeting every month, `You have to come to work.’ I tell them every month that absenteeism is not acceptable, but it does happen,” Phillips said.