Over 50 Trash Workers Strike in Montgomery County

More than 50 trash workers in Montgomery County are striking.

Fifty-seven workers for the Gaithersburg-based Potomac Disposal went on strike Monday and plan to remain off the job Tuesday.

The newly unionized workers say they have been pressing for health benefits and the company has retaliated with immigration enforcement threats. Employees say on Friday they found I-9 forms attached to their time cards. The forms are required by the federal government to verify the identity of all U.S. workers. Workers say they hadn't previously been asked to fill out the forms.

The workers' strike disrupted trash pickup for about 8,000 homes in Silver Spring and Potomac. The company is one of three the county uses for trash service.

A woman who answered the company's office phone Monday declined comment.