Civic strike will make Vancouver stinky

My friend's husband who is a garbage collector told me a few weeks ago that they were going on strike. He said the city makes [get this] $1 million dollars a day when there is no garbage collection.  So, he figures that the city wants them to go on strike, so that with the money they save they'll be able to give them the benefits they're currently trying to eliminate. I'm already getting nauseous thinking about the smells that the city will be infused with in a few days. Isn't there an easier way for them to cut costs and be able to give their workers the extended benefits they need?