I have seen what used to be city or municipal jobs such as garbage truck workers go private. As city workers there were unions, benefits and retirement pensions.
On top of that, we had 3 men per truck, I driver and 2 men that emptied the cans into the truck, each would take one side of the street.
Now it's all been privatized, it's low pay work with a median income of about $15.00 per hour, now the real kicker on this is that it has gone from a 3 man crew to a one man truck, the driver pulls up every week jumps out, dumps the cans and moves the next spot where he does it all over again.
It is smelly, low pay, back breaking and thankless work, most folks don't hold garbage men in high esteem.
But, ask your self, how valuable would they be after missing their rounds for a few weeks. The trash piles up, the smell hovers around us, the flies and rats are having a good old time.
I think that perhaps garbage men after a month of this might be seen as more valuable and be more greatly appreciated.
Now some might say that the employers would just replace those who didn't come to work, I would tell you that not all are even capable of this kind of work, it is hard, dirty work.
$15.00 per hour is not a lot of money for this job.
http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Garbage_Man/Hourly_Rate