Millions of residents across the U.S. have been facing mounting piles of uncollected trash this month as a strike by Republic Services waste workers—spearheaded by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters)—spread from the greater Boston area to cities and landfills from Los Angeles to Ohio, Washington, Illinois, and Georgia.
The disruption, which began in early July in Boston and has since snowballed into a multi-state action, has left millions without regular trash pickup.
“Our demands have been the same since these strikes started—wages that are consistent with the cost of living, affordable and accessible health care benefits, and enhanced union protections,” Victor Mineros, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division, told Newsweek.
Republic Services told Newsweek: “…our wage offer is higher than our local competitors, but the Teamsters were unwilling to compromise on their demands.”
Why It Matters
Garbage disposal strikes can cause trash to accumulate on streets, accompanied by a foul odor, especially during the summer. This was evident during a trash collection strike in Philadelphia in early July.
What To Know
The strike, led by Teamsters Local 25 in Boston, has since expanded, with more than 2,000 workers either striking or honoring picket lines across California, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington, according to the union.
Los Angeles residents and neighborhoods in Rosemead, Inglewood, Compton, Whittier, and Santa Fe Springs, as well Santa Ana and Anaheim saw service interruptions as Southern California workers joined the protest, according to ABC7.
In Youngstown, Ohio, trucks and trains from New York City and New Jersey would be unable to unload 12 million pounds of garbage daily at one of the largest landfills in the country due to the action, Teamsters said in a press release.
In Bellevue, Washington, residents hauled trash to temporary drop-off sites as curbside collection halted, resulting in long lines, as reported by KOMO News. City officials provided free garbage disposal at a local park and school.
In Massachusetts, CBS News reported that six towns—including Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody, and Malden—brought legal action to compel Republic Services to restore services after 17 days without regular trash removal.
What People Are Saying
In a statement to Newsweek, Republic Services said that along with Greater Boston, Teamsters-led work stoppages were ongoing at locations in Cumming (Georgia), Ottawa (Illinois), Manteca (California), and Lacey (Washington).
“A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve. We empathize with customers who have been impacted by the Teamsters’ decision to stop work. It is clear that the Teamsters are unwilling to negotiate in the best interest of our employees. Instead, they are focused on disrupting service for our customers. We’ve taken several steps to continue providing service, including securing Republic Services employees from other areas, prioritizing routes and optimizing routing efficiencies,” it said.
“Republic Services is committed to providing our front-line colleagues with wages and benefits that are market-competitive and sustainable, and maintaining reliable service in the communities we serve. We will continue to pursue strong contracts that benefit our employees and our customers.”
Victor Mineros, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division, told Newsweek that in addition to the aforementioned cities, the union has “more than 2,000 members who are honoring picket line extensions by not reporting to work. This expands the impact of the strikes exponentially. These picket line extensions are in the Central Illinois, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Joaquin Counties, Calif.; the Puget Sound Region, Wash.; the San Francisco Bay Area, and Youngstown, Ohio.”
What Happens Next
Republic Services told Newsweek that a meeting with some Teamsters members for negotiations could take place on Friday, which the union confirmed.
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