Drivers and warehouse workers at Seattle-based recycling startup Ridwell are looking to organize a union.
Teamsters Local 117 filed a petition in October with the National Labor Relations Board saying the union was seeking an election to represent Ridwell warehouse workers and drivers. The Business Journal received a copy of the petition through a Freedom of Information Act request, and Ridwell on Thursday confirmed some of its drivers and warehouse workers had started unionization efforts.
"We are committed to working with our employees to achieve our shared goals whichever choice this group makes in the upcoming union election," Ridwell said in a statement to the Business Journal. "Ridwell is a young, public benefit company that hired our first true employee less than three years ago. We are focused on making Ridwell a great place to work as we strive to make our startup profitable and bring our sustainability service to households all over the country. We will respect the decision our employees make and look forward to continuing to work together to build a strong and successful team."
The petition said union elections don't always happen after a filing and that the decision whether to hold an election hadn't been made. But it also referred to a video hearing regarding the steps to unionize that had been scheduled for Oct. 24. Ridwell didn't immediately say when the election would be held.
Ridwell launched in 2018. The company picks up and recycles hard-to-recycle materials like light bulbs, batteries, clothes and plastic bags. Its services are available in Seattle; Bellingham; the Bay Area; Austin, Texas; Denver; Minneapolis; and Portland. Ridwell also partners with local organizations to collect household items to donate to causes.
Ryan Metzger, Ridwell's co-founder and CEO, started the company as a recycling carpool service with his son before it grew into its own business. Metzger is the former director of growth marketing at the Seattle-based venture heavyweight Madrona Venture Group. Drivers can use Ridwell's app to guide them along the most efficient route, and Ridwell also collects data to understand recycling trends in different areas.
The Teamsters union has 1.2 million members, including 17,000 with Tukwila-based Local 117. Although the union has a reputation for representing drivers and warehouse workers, it also represents workers in fields like construction, sanitation and health care.
“All workers, including employees at Ridwell, have the right to a voice at work so they can improve their wages, benefits and working conditions," John Scearcy, secretary and treasurer of Local 117, said in a statement to the Business Journal. "Teamsters 117 provides professional representation and a strong voice for its members.”
Reporter Alex Halverson contributed to this story.
