NEW ORLEANS – Sanitation workers who are on strike assembled on the steps of City Hall today to protest what they call unfair working conditions during the COVID-19 crisis.

The striking workers are calling for Metro Service Group to give them personal protective equipment, higher wages, and hazard pay.

“This is a time where what we’re asking for as men, as individuals, and as people, is to be respected and heard,” City Waste Union worker Jonathan Edward said in a statement. “We deserve to be heard and deserve to be treated better. It’s not just ‘look at me I’m a sanitation worker,’ but ‘look at me I am a man.’ And we’re not going to stop until we’re heard.”

Metro has issued a detailed “fact sheet” that breaks down the issues, claiming that the complaints from the workers are unfounded.

Read the fact sheet from Metro in its entirety below.

A City Hall spokesperson released the following statement on behalf of the City of New Orleans:

“The City began investigating immediately upon being alerted to potential payment concerns relating to a contracted vendor, Metro Disposal. Our Sanitation department is working to resolve the situation, and to insist that the vendor verify their contracted workers are being paid appropriately. In the current crisis, it is critical for all workers to have access to appropriate PPE. The City reached out to all contractors at the beginning of this outbreak, and Metro has represented to the City that they purchased 15,000 masks and more than 1,000 boxes of gloves to ensure protection for all workers and subcontractors.”

City Hall spokesperson