by As workers for the waste management company Republic Services continue a strike
that began
almost two weeks ago, state and local officials are pressuring the company to reach a deal and end the work stoppage. But negotiations between the company and Teamsters Local 25 were unsuccessful in recent days, despite the involvement of a
federal mediator
.
In the absence of a breakthrough, residents and businesses in many Massachusetts communities have been left to deal with overflowing trash bins and dumpsters.
The two sides met for nine and a half hours Friday, but could not reach an agreement. Afterwards, each blamed the other in harsh language: Republic accused the Teamsters of “not taking negotiations seriously,” while the union said that Republic “walked out” and refused to bargain through the weekend. Talks are scheduled to begin again on Tuesday.
The striking workers are demanding improved wages, benefits, and stronger labor protections. More than 2,000 Teamsters across the country are either actively on strike or “honoring picket lines,” according to the union. General President Sean O’Brien declared “
war
” on Republic last week, threatening to “flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state.”
In Massachusetts, the strike is impacting municipal trash pickup for 14 communities that contract with Republic. Most of these communities are on the North Shore. Republic trucks are still collecting waste in all 14 communities, a spokesperson said Monday. But reports of disruptions and delays are frequent. Republic also has many commercial customers, like restaurants, in Boston and elsewhere that are
struggling with service disruptions
.
Officials add pressure
Secretary of State Bill Galvin sent a letter directly to Republic President Jon Vander Ark Friday expressing concerns about the situation. Republic has failed to “continue active participation” in the negotiations, causing hardship on residents, he wrote.
Galvin urged Republic to “intensify” negotiations immediately. He also questioned whether more governmental oversight of the industry is needed.
“Refuse collection is an important public service that should not be conditioned on a private company’s strategy. Circumstances such as these raise serious questions whether these important public services should be left to private companies without state oversight,” Galvin wrote.
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Seth Moulton and other elected officials come out to support trash strikers
-
Trash talks head to mediation as strike continues
-
‘It’s criminal behavior’: Company accuses Teamsters of slashing tires amid Boston area trash collectors strike
Vander Ark received another letter Friday, this one signed by Boston City Councilors Erin Murphy, John FitzGerald, and Ed Flynn. Those three were the driving forces behind a
resolution
that City Council unanimously passed last week expressing solidarity with the Teamsters.
In their letter the councilors said that the striking workers’ demands were “clear and reasonable,” but blamed Republic for not meeting “basic standards.” Republic generates about
$16 billion
a year in revenue, a fact that councilors alluded to in their letter.
“We are also troubled that a Fortune 500 company with significant annual profits and a CEO compensation package exceeding $12 million would refuse to provide its frontline workers with the fair and respectful treatment they deserve,” the councilors wrote.
Last week, Congressman Seth Moulton, state Sen. Lydia Edwards, and more
elected officials voiced their support
for the Teamsters.
Communities take action
At least two communities that rely on Republic for municipal trash pickup have told the company that it is in danger of losing its contracts due to non-performance amid the strike. Attorneys for Lynnfield and North Reading sent separate official notices of non-performance and demands for remedy last week.
More than 2,000 collections were missed in North Reading as of last Tuesday, resulting in a “growing sense of frustration” among residents and officials, a lawyer for the town wrote. North Reading is incurring “significant” additional expenses every day that Republic’s nonperformance continues, he added.
An attorney for Lynnfield wrote in a letter to Republic that the town intends to apply for liquidated damages and reserves the right to seek other remedies if necessary. Since July 1, the company has “wholly failed and refused” to collect any recyclables in Lynnfield. It has also failed to collect trash at all in certain locations, and has missed pickups in others.
“If, as I understand, a pending labor dispute has affected your ability to meet your obligations under the Agreement, I must point out that the same cannot constitute an excuse for non-performance,” the town counsel for Lynnfield wrote.
Officials in places that do not rely on Republic for municipal trash collection are monitoring the situation and, in some cases, taking action. In Brookline, where about 160 commercial customers use Republic, town leaders said that restaurants, commercial properties, and multi-unit residences could be impacted. The town is focused on mitigating public health concerns and avoiding the need to shut businesses down due to unmanaged waste.
“Enforcement efforts are underway, including site inspections and warnings or fines for violations of local trash storage and sanitation requirements. The Town will take further action if unmanaged waste becomes a public health concern,” Commissioner of Public Works Erin Chute said in a
statement
.
Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller said in a notice last week that some dumpsters are “overflowing” with waste at properties that contract with Republic. The city is
temporarily accepting waste
at a municipal building from property owners who rely on Republic. The approximately 180 impacted property owners can drop off their trash for a fee at a location on Rumford Avenue for the duration of the strike.
Trading blame
In a statement issued after negotiations failed to produce an agreement on Friday, Teamsters Local President Tom Mari said that the union “tried everything” to reach a settlement.
Republic added some dollars to its offer on wages, but the Teamsters say that more is needed. Republic should match wages paid by Capitol Waste Services, a company that Boston and a number of nearby communities contract with for their municipal trash pickup, Mari said.
The Teamsters volunteered to negotiate through Friday night and the weekend, but Republic “walked out and refused to meet again until Tuesday morning,” according to Mari.
“I feel bad for the citizens in the cities and towns serviced by Republic. I know that several of the towns have threatened Republic with fines and penalties, but nothing seems to get the company’s attention,” he said.
Republic said that it offered a nearly 16% wage increase immediately and an increase of about 43% over five years. It accused the Teamsters of peddling “falsehoods” and insisted that its wage offers outpace competitors.
“It was clear that further negotiations would not be productive due to the Teamsters’ lack of interest in reaching an agreement,” Republic said.
Health insurance is a particular flashpoint, with union members demanding workers be able to join the Teamsters’ plan. This “offers no significant benefit at a substantially higher cost,” Republic said. The union maintains that the company’s health insurance is “inferior” and “less comprehensive.”
The strike has also been colored by accusations of “
criminal behavior
” by Teamsters and “outside agitators.” Republic accused the Teamsters of threatening and assaulting employees, “rampant” vandalism, and even stealing a truck.
“Teamsters leadership does not care about protecting our employees or communities,” Republic said. “It is time for the public to seek answers from the Teamsters about these criminal actions.”
A spokesperson for the union did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the allegations.
Republic Services trash strike: Are you impacted?
Ross Cristantiello, a general assignment news reporter for Boston.com since 2022, covers local politics, crime, the environment, and more.
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