As the worker strike across multiple states nears its second week, state leaders nationwide are calling on the garbage collection company at the center of the dispute to settle a contract and resume operations.
Republic Services told Fox News Digital that they are “working to resume regular trash collection as quickly as possible.”
“A work stoppage serves neither our employees nor the communities we are committed to,” a company spokesperson stated. “We are sympathetic to customers affected by the Teamsters’ decision to halt work.”
The company added that its customers will be notified via text, phone and email with any updates.
Berkeley, Calif. is seeking to charge for all takeout containers in an effort to cut back on plastic waste. (iStock)
The organization reports facing union-led work stoppages at six locations, including two units in Boston and four additional places in Cumming, Georgia; Ottawa, Illinois; Manteca, California; and Lacey, Washington. Furthermore, the Teamsters union has broadened their picketing to extra locations, resulting in numerous workers at these sites respecting the picket lines, according to the company.
While the company claims that garbage pickup is continuing in all affected areas, many residents and businesses report delays and inconsistent service. Republic’s commercial clients, such as restaurants, are also grappling with waste collection issues.
Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin sent a formal letter Friday to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark, criticizing the company for halting active negotiations and imposing hardship on communities. In the letter, obtained by Boston.com, Galvin called for more intense efforts to reach a deal and suggested that the situation might require greater government oversight of the waste management sector.
He emphasized that essential public services like trash collection shouldn’t hinge on the strategies of a private corporation, and questioned whether oversight of such services should remain in the hands of private firms.
Boston City Councilors Erin Murphy, John FitzGerald and Ed Flynn echoed these sentiments in a separate letter to Vander Ark. The trio, who spearheaded a City Council resolution supporting the Teamsters, said the union’s demands were fair and accused Republic of failing to meet fundamental labor standards.
Republic countered that it had proposed a nearly 16% immediate pay raise and a total increase of around 43% over five years. The company accused the union of spreading misinformation and asserted its wage offers exceed those of competitors.
“Don’t believe the union’s false narrative – 45% of our Greater Boston drivers represented by the Teamsters earned more than $100,000 last year, based on W-2 data,” the company said. “If the Teamsters accepted the offer we made today, drivers would make approximately $140,000 per year, by the end of the contract.”
In addition, the company claimed that they “pay 100% of the health and welfare premiums for our Greater Boston employees” and ensured that they have a comprehensive health and welfare plan.
The company said that the mediator requested both sides return to mediation on Tuesday, July 15, and both parties agreed.
“We are confident that our most recent proposal meets all of our employees’ demands, and we expect the Teamsters to bargain in the best interest of our employees.”
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
