Garbage haulers approve contracts

Seattle-area garbage haulers approved contracts from two companies Sunday night, avoiding a strike that could have affected millions of customers.

Members of Teamsters Local 174 cast ballots in favor of four-year proposals from both Allied Waste Industries Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Houston-based Waste Management Inc., union spokesman Tom Herriman said.

Vote totals were not immediately available Sunday night.

Local 174 negotiated separately with each company and reached tentative agreements with both during meetings in the past week.

The contracts are “largely the same,” Dan Scott, Local 174 secretary-treasurer, said Sunday. Key issues included affordable health care, controls on forced overtime, safe work conditions and seniority.

Portland

Man survives 300-foot fall

A rescue team retrieved a Portland man who survived a 300-foot fall on Mount Hood this weekend.

Jeremy Buck, 41, broke a rib and suffered hip and leg injuries. He was treated at a Portland hospital and released, said Detective Jim Strovink of Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.

Buck, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish & Wildlife, slipped in icy conditions Saturday, said Sgt. Sean Collinson of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue unit.

Despite his injuries, Buck attempted to walk down the mountain after his fall. He stopped after 20 minutes, Collinson said.

Buck’s friend went for help and ran into a team from Portland Mountain Rescue. The rescuers encountered snow, strong winds and freezing temperatures atop Reid Glacier. Less than two hours after reaching Buck, they called for additional help.

Snow cat drivers from Timberline Lodge were later dispatched to the 9,200-foot level of the mountain to take Buck to the lodge. The rescue team and Buck reached the lodge at 10 p.m., their backpacks frozen to their clothing.

From wire reports