Dear Mayor Cantrell,

cc: New Orleans Sanitation Department

The mayor's office has demonstrated incredible leadership during this crisis. New Orleans quickly emerged as a hot spot for COVID-19, but because of the responsiveness and action taken by our city we have put in place the necessary social distancing measures that have allowed us to flatten the curve.

However, some of our most essential workers are not being treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. During the COVID-19 crisis, New Orleans garbage hoppers are working long, grueling shifts in bad conditions, without adequate proper protective equipment (PPE), for low pay. In 2015 the city passed a resolution to ensure city-contracted workers get paid a living wage, and in the New Orleans metro area, a living wage is $26 per hour to support a family of four.​ Metro Service hoppers are paid far below that. Our sanitation workers put their lives on the line everyday to keep this city safe and clean, and now we must support them as they organize for their rights.

Now Metro Service is threatening their jobs. This company has a $10 million contract with the City of New Orleans, yet they are not willing to provide fair working conditions to the New Orleanians who are risking their health and safety everyday so that our city can operate.

In response to unsafe working conditions, the Metro Service hoppers have organized and formed the City Waste Union. Here are the City Waste Union demands:

1) Provide PPE to all workers immediately and consistently on a daily basis.

2) Fix broken trucks that leak toxic hydraulic uid on workers daily.

3) Provide hourly pay rate of $15 per hour.
—Workers currently receive only 10.25 per hour with no benefits!—

4) Provide weekly hazard pay of $150 per week.

Mayor Cantrell and the New Orleans Sanitation Department, you have a lot of power to intervene on behalf of these workers. Please tell Metro Service that they need to guarantee all New Orleans hoppers dignity, respect and fair wages.

Sincerely,