Tuesday, Feb. 1 - Two sanitation workers are killed in an accident on a city truck. Newspapers claim 200 workers of 1,300 remain on the job but only 38 of 180 trucks move. Tuesday, Feb. 13 - An International Union official flies in from Washington to meet with the mayor. He calls for union recognition, dues checkoff and negotiations to resolve the workers' grievances. The Mayor says he'll hire new workers unless the strikers return to their jobs.
Police escort the few garbage trucks in operation.
Negotiations between the city and the union break off. Newspapers say more than 10,000 tons of garbage is piled up. Friday, Feb. 16 - Union leaders urge the city council to intervene. The council supports the Mayor. The Ministerial Association arranges a meeting between the Mayor and union leaders moderated by a Memphis rabbi.