“We have built a great reputation and it is important to present the facts surrounding this issue, so that people know we care about our employees and are committed to their safety and paying them livable wages in accordance with our contract with the City of New Orleans.”

We are a family business and we care about our employees and we are most proud of our workforce that are predominately African Americans and that we can help them provide for themselves and their families”

These are some of the bullet points supplied to Data News Weekly by Metro Service Group:

PPE and Worker Health Conditions (bold)

Metro Services has consistently paid the living wage as outlined by City Ordinance for both direct employees and subcontractors.

The individuals who are striking are employees of PeopleReady, one of several contracting companies that Metro – and other sanitation companies – use.

Hazard Pay (bold)

• Metro Service Group fully supports hazard pay for sanitation workers and others on the front line in this challenging COVID-19 environment.

“It is our hope that with the information we distributed to the media and to the public that it shows that Metro Service Group is a company that is working in the best interest of all our employees to provide a safe workplace and to provide them with a livable wage.”