Hundreds of East Bay garbage workers walked off the job Friday, staging a five-hour stoppage to show their frustration with the ongoing labor negotiations.

The strike began at 3 a.m. with boisterous picket lines going up at three Waste Management locations in the East Bay including the company’s regional headquarters near the Oakland International Airport. At 8 a.m., workers returned to their jobs.

Company officials said the short disruption meant garage pickup would be delayed by about an hour.

The workers claim the company has been threatening employees, mistreating immigrant workers and implementing work rules in lieu of a new contract.

“America won’t work if big companies like Waste Management can break the law with impunity and violate workers’ rights,” said Fred Pecker, Secretary-Treasurer of ILWU Local 6 based in Oakland. “All working people deserve respect on the job and the right to be free from illegal threats.” The union said it has filed formal charges against Waste Management with the National Labor Relations Board. Waste Management spokesman David Tucker said the company was surprised by the work stoppage.

“We learned about this late yesterday. It was a surprise to us,” he told KTVU. “We’ve been at the negotiating table for the past few months. We are now assessing who is showing up for work and who is not and developing plans as this rolls out. “

Tucker said the company and union has been in negotiations with a federal mediator and denies the strikers claims of intimidation.

“There’s been no intimidation of anyone,” he said. “During negotiations you have people with varying opinions about how things are going. We believe we have been bargaining in great faith… They have the right to do what they do but we have to service our customers. “

The striking employees at Waste Management included landfill workers, clerical/customer service workers and recycling workers.

The company collects household refuse and operates recycling facilities for residents and businesses throughout the East Bay. Their Altamont sanitary landfill disposes of solid waste from numerous cities in the East Bay and San Francisco.