State leaders are urging Republic Services to finalize contracts with striking Teamsters in order to restore garbage collection services as communities across the country struggle with waste accumulation. With the multi-state worker strike approaching its second week, the garbage collection company is being pressed by state officials to resolve the situation and get services back on track. Republic Services has stated that they are working to resume regular trash collection as quickly as possible.
Despite the involvement of a federal mediator, recent negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters union representatives have failed to yield a resolution. The strike has disrupted trash collection in 14 Massachusetts communities served by Republic, primarily along the North Shore. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien has escalated tensions by warning that the union plans to disrupt waste collection operations across multiple states. O’Brien declared ‘war’ on Republic Services, warning that the union plans to ‘flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state.’ The company, however, claims that the union has not been negotiating in good faith and that their recent offer includes significant wage increases that outpace competitors.
Both sides have agreed to return to mediation on July 15, with hopes of resolving the impasse and restoring normal waste collection services. 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 to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark, criticizing the company for halting active negotiations and imposing hardship on communities. In his 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.