On Nov. 6, the Redmond City Council approved a settlement agreement between the City of Redmond and Waste Management regarding the driver labor strike that disrupted garbage, recycling and yard waste service from July 25 to Aug. 2.

Per the settlement, customers will receive a one-time credit on the service portion of their Waste Management bill: $10 for single family residences and $50 for most commercial and multi-family customers.

“The city is pleased to have reached this agreement with Waste Management in a manner that was fast and fair,” said Redmond Mayor John Marchione.

Waste Management spokesperson Robin Freedman added, “It was a very positive process.”

She said Redmond customers — both residential and commercial — can expect to receive their credits beginning next year in January, February or March.

The credit is in recognition of customers’ inconvenience and frustration during the driver strike, Freedman said, and is the company’s way of thanking customers for their patience and understanding.

“Waste Management truly values our relationship with Redmond,” she said, adding that they look forward to continuing to help the city stay at the front of the sustainability movement.

Waste Management recycling and yard waste truck drivers in King and Snohomish counties went on strike on July 25 after failed contract negotiations. It was reported earlier that Teamsters’ Local Union 117, whose membership includes recycling and yard waste drivers, accused the company of violating several federal labor laws, including bad-faith bargaining, coercing and direct dealing with its employees and threatening to retaliate against workers.

In those earlier reports, Freedman denied that the company had violated any federal labor laws.

Waste Management and the union reached an agreement on the evening of Aug. 1, bringing an end to the week-long strike, during which more than 13,000 residential and commercial customers in Redmond were affected.

Freedman said Waste Management has come to similar settlement agreements with the cities of Seattle, Federal Way, Burien and Auburn and is currently in settlement talks with other cities in the greater Puget Sound area that were affected by the strike.