Though Waste Management made the announcement that it’s moving forward with new permanent hires to replace picketing drivers, the company doesn’t have a date on when the hires will happen or how many employees it plans to take on.

The company has been talking about the new possible hires all week but hasn’t addressed what will happen to the new hires when the strike ends because the current drivers cannot be fired for being on strike.

“They can say they’re hiring permanent replacement drivers, but our drivers are on an unfair labor strike.  They cannot be lawfully, permanently replaced.  I think it’s another bullying technique this company is trying to use to get in the heads of our drivers,” said Brenda Weist with Teamsters Local 117.

Waste Management’s response is that the company’s commitment is to the customers it serves and that’s why it’s moving forward with plans for new hires.

But it could be some time before new drivers hit the streets.  The company is still screening applicants, and then once hires do begin, Waste Management admits there’s training that has to happen.

A striking driver said new hires cannot drive for two weeks, and then they go through a few months of training before getting their own routes.

 Waste Management said it has no idea when the strike will end, as negotiations are at a standstill.

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Meanwhile, Seattle city inspectors will hit the streets on Thursday to see whether trash, recycling and yard waste is collected, and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn asked customers to report missed collections through Twitter.

 told garbage customers to take a photo of uncollected garbage, recycling and yard waste and tweet it, along with the location and the hash tag #theymissedme.