Latest news with #sanitationworkers
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
DC 33 wraps up voting on tentative deal with Parker administration, results expected to be released Monday
Residents in Philadelphia's Spring Garden neighborhood put out their trash Sunday night confident that their Monday pickup would happen. But will that be the case in the days ahead? A week and a half ago, AFSCME District Council 33, with about 9,000 members, reached a tentative three-year agreement with the city of Philadelphia. The deal includes a 3% raise for each year. That agreement needs to be ratified by a majority of the union's members to go into effect. Over the past week, through Sunday afternoon, members voted in person at union headquarters in University City. The union represents sanitation workers and other employees across multiple city departments, from police dispatchers and crossing guards to maintenance workers at Philadelphia International Airport. All votes will be counted at the District 33 headquarters on Monday. That's when results are expected to be announced. In the meantime, many residents are left to wait and hope for the best. Amber Daddezio and AJ Burton saw the trash mounds around Graduate Hospital and in North Philadelphia, where they live. While they hate to think about another potential halt to pickups, they also understand. "It makes me nervous," Daddezio said. "They're not paid nearly enough for this incredibly important hard work that they're doing every single day," Burton said. It's a similar sentiment from Scout Woodhouse, who's willing to sacrifice a few more days if it means a fair deal for those who help keep the city running. "They are the backbone of the city. They help operations and daily functions, and they deserve more," Woodhouse said.
Washington Post
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Here legally since 1999, thousands of immigrants have 60 days to leave
They are nurses, mechanics, sanitation workers and executives. They've fallen in love, bought houses and raised children. They've opened restaurants and construction companies, paid taxes and contributed to Social Security, living and working legally in the United States since 1999. Now more than 50,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans stand to abruptly lose their legal status as the Trump administration seeks to end their protections, in place since the Clinton era, under the temporary protected status program, or TPS. Amid a broader campaign to crack down on immigration, the Department of Homeland Security said that because 'conditions have improved' in Honduras and Nicaragua, it is ending the program for natives of those countries in early September.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘No other option': Republic Services workers on strike; expect trash pickup delays
Stockton residents may experience trash pickup delays this week due to a strike by sanitation workers employed by Republic Services. Members of the Teamsters Local 439 are on strike in Stockton in an effort to reach an agreement with Republic Services. Employees went on strike at noon on Tuesday, July 8. The strike continued on Wednesday at Republic Services at 1145 W. Charter Way in Stockton and Forward Landfill at 9999 S. Austin Road in Manteca. "Republic Services forced our members in Stockton out on strike by refusing to make meaningful progress at the bargaining table or provide Local 439 members with a contract that gives them a living wage that's consistent with industry standards, affordable and accessible health care, and fair work rules," Matt McQuaid, project manager, communications team for Teamsters Department of Strategic Initiatives told The Stockton Record via email on Wednesday. McQuaid said there are about 40 members of the Teamsters Local 439 on strike and more than 600 members from other Teamsters local unions honoring the picket lines. "Local 439 members who work at Republic Services are dedicated public servants. They don't just work in Stockton, they live in Stockton," McQuaid said. "Republic Teamsters would rather be back at work, but the employer left them with no other option." Teamsters Local 439 is a labor union that represents members in San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. They have served these areas for more than 60 years, representing more than 5,600 members and with over 85 employers participating in collective bargaining agreements with them, according to the labor union's website. McQuaid said Teamsters settle more than 90% of the waste industry contracts without stoppage of work. "This strike is Republic's fault," McQuaid said. Republic Services confirmed the strike and the possibility of waste collection delays. "Republic Services is in contract negotiations with IBT 439, the union representing some of our employees at Forward Landfill. Those employees are engaged in a temporary work stoppage and are picketing at other Republic Services locations in the area," Republic Services officials said in a statement. "As a result, we anticipate temporary service delays for some recycling and waste collection customers in the area." Republic Services officials also stated that services at essential businesses such as hospitals, nursing homes and apartment complexes are still being provided. The company shared a list of communities where service delays are being experienced. Communities experiencing service delays include: Stockton San Jose Solano County Fairfield Suisun San Pablo Richmond Hercules Pinole Rodeo Crockett El Sobrante Piedmont East Richmond Heights Bay View Montalvan Tara Hills North Richmond Rollingwood Union City Newark Freemont Half Moon Bay Daly City Colma "We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause," Republic Services officials said. McQuaid said businesses and residents that receive trash collection services from Republic Services throughout Stockton, "should expect their garbage to pile up until the strike is resolved." He said that the strike can end tomorrow if Republic Services gives Teamsters what they are asking for. Sign up for our alerts to receive the latest updates on important news. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi told The Record via email on Wednesday that the city was informed of the strike on Tuesday. Since the strike had not started at that time, city officials waited to verify the information was correct before issuing a public update. By Tuesday afternoon, the city of Stockton took to social media to inform the community of the anticipated interruption. "The City understands how important reliable service is to our community. We are communicating with Republic Services and will share updates as they become available. Republic Services is also providing updates to its customers via the customer's preferred form of communication (email or phone message). Thank you for your patience and understanding as this situation develops." Fugazi said that while all routes are not impacted, service is limited. She went on to say that supervisors and team members are doing their best to continue the collection of waste. Fugazi is hopeful the "strike will not last longer than a week," but said it depends on the negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters. "We are currently exploring alternative options, such as designated drop-off locations. In the meantime, some residents and businesses may need to hold onto their waste until service resumes," Fugazi said. "This is also a good opportunity to evaluate what items belong in regular trash bins, and which can be sorted into recycling or green waste. Many items that are typically thrown away can be diverted from the landfill with proper sorting." Stockton residents have taken to the city's post about the waste collection service interruption to ask if they will receive any sort of discount on their bills if their trash is not picked up. Fugazi said questions regarding "billing or possible service credits" should be directed to Republic Services. "At this time, we are focused on maximizing waste collection and will address billing questions in the near future," Republic Services officials said. "We are making adjustments to our operations to continue providing service during this situation." Stockton's sanitation workers are not the only employees striking. In the Midwest, strikes have also made headlines in Evansville, Indiana where members of the Teamsters Local 215 are in contract talks with Republic Services. Trash has also started to pile up in the streets of Philadelphia amid a AFSCME Union strike, among other cities. "Republic Teamsters are striking nationwide because this is a national fight," McQuaid said. "Whether it's Stockton, Boston, Illinois, Georgia, or Washington State, this company consistently takes its workforce for granted." For Republic Services waste collection services updates, visit or call 209-466-3604. Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@ or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at This article originally appeared on The Record: Teamsters Republic Services strike in Stockton may delay trash pickup
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Philadelphia Public Workers Reach Deal to End Strike
Philadelphia's largest public sector union reached a tentative labor agreement early Wednesday morning with the city's mayor, ending an eight-day strike that had halted trash collection and other services. 'The Strike is Over!' the union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, posted on its Facebook page around 4:30 a.m. Eastern. It represents roughly 9,000 municipal employees, including 1,000 sanitation workers. 'I have good news tonight for the hard-working men and women of AFSCME District Council 33, and for every taxpaying resident and business in Philadelphia,' the mayor, Cherelle Parker, said in a statement on social media. The strike, which began July 1, forced municipal agencies to scale back some programs and suspend others. The city closed some of its public libraries and warned of longer repair times for issues like water main breaks or street cave-ins. The most visible effect of the strike was the overflowing garbage that caused pungent odors across the city. To deal with the piles of trash growing on the streets, the city enlisted private contractors and nonunion municipal employees, a plan that encountered intense criticism over its effectiveness. The union and the mayor agreed on a three-year contract that would mean a 14 percent pay increase for union members over the four years that Ms. Parker is in office, she said in her statement. The deal still has to be ratified by the union's members. The workers had been operating under a one-year contract extension that expired at the beginning of the month and were seeking a multiyear deal. Union members had been split over wage increases offered by the city, which union officials said did not keep up with inflation. The strike was the first extended work stoppage by the union in nearly 40 years.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Fire at historic Black church in Memphis was intentionally set, investigators say
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A fire that severely damaged a historic Black church that served as the headquarters for a 1968 sanitation workers' strike, which brought the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis, was intentionally set, investigators said Wednesday. The fire at the Clayborn Temple, which was undergoing a yearslong renovation, was set in the interior of the church, the Memphis Fire Department said in a statement. Investigators are searching for a person suspected of being involved with the blaze. Flames engulfed the downtown church in the early hours of April 28. Later that day Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat said the inside of the building was a total loss but there was still hope that some of the facade could be salvaged. The fire department said May 14 that the building had been stabilized and investigators would use specialized equipment to study the fire's cause.
