Trash pickup delayed in Mass. towns as waste collection workers' strike drags on

Boston Globe

2 days ago

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Of the 14 towns Republic listed as affected by the strike, only
Representatives of 12 affected towns sent a letter to Republic on Thursday urging a swift return to the bargaining table and requesting the company's presence at a meeting Thursday afternoon.
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The letter states that the towns have seen a lack of timely communication and delays in backup resources being deployed by Republic while trash pileup causes public health worries.
'Reliable curbside waste and recycling collection is an essential public service,' the letters said, 'and this disruption has had significant ripple effects throughout our communities.'
The Teamsters union is blaming Republic for the work stoppage. Wages, benefits, working conditions, and paid time off are the sticking points in negotiations, according the union.
'If your rubbish is piling up on the Fourth of July, remember who's responsible for it: the white-collar criminals who run Republic Services,' said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien in a statement on Tuesday. 'Republic Teamsters didn't start this fight, but we will finish it. Our members will do whatever it takes to finally get the respect they're owed.'
Republic said in a statement that its Greater Boston employees receive 'competitive wages, an industry-leading healthcare plan, pension plan and a generous time-off and holiday plan.'
'We value our employees and entered negotiations intending to raise wages,' the company said.
Tensions have been high on the picket lines. In the early hours of the Revere picket line on Tuesday, striking workers blocked the gates into and out of the facility multiple times.
In a statement, Republic alleged the striking workers vandalized vehicles and harassed employees.
A Republic manager told police striking workers keyed and slashed tires on Republic rental vehicles entering the facility at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a police report.
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'Officers that were on scene at that time were engaged with strikers and did not witness the reported property damage occurring,' Maria A. LaVita, interim Chief of Police, said in a statement.
Striking workers picketing in Revere on Wednesday morning said they were hopeful an agreement would be reached quickly, but the day came and went with no resolution.
Republic said in a statement that the union 'did not match our willingness to achieve a new contract' in Wednesday's negotiations with a federal mediator present. The company said it presented terms addressing the union's interests, and the union rejected them without a counter proposal.
The union did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Stella Tannenbaum can be reached at