As the Republic Services trash strike enters its second week, residents are being urged to embrace patience and neighborly cooperation.
The strike began on July 1 after the waste collection company and the Teamsters union failed to reach a contract agreement.
Many communities have halted the collection of curbside recycling pickup and have told residents to only place trash in barrels with tight-fitting lids curbside.
Anything not picked up should be brought to a town transfer station.
Republic stated that Teamsters “reached out” to them yesterday, and Republic has agreed to mediation with Teamsters and the federal mediator.
Republic’s media team stated that the Teamsters leaders have “instigated violent actions and threats to prevent our trucks from reaching customers. Despite these attempts to interfere, we are proudly continuing to serve all 14 municipalities in Greater Boston.
“We call on Teamsters’ leadership to immediately stop the instigation, intimidation, and criminal acts, and resolve this situation. We agree with community leaders urging a resolution.”
The company stated that “45% of our Greater Boston drivers represented by the union earned more than $100,000 last year, based on W-2 data.”
Additionally, the company stated that it pays 100% of the medical premiums for its Greater Boston employees.
Republic stated that on June 30, it put a “significant wage increase on the table, offering a 39% increase over five years and a 14% increase in year one.” This offer outpaces competitors and industry standards.
Republic stated that it also has the strongest safety performance in the industry.
The company stated that Teamsters leaders “demand that our employees join the Teamsters’ health and welfare plan, which offers no significant benefit at a substantially higher cost.”
Republic stated that some employees working on prevailing wage jobs could lose more than $40,000 annually with this change.
The company stated that it is “working hard to protect our employees amid Teamsters’ threats and attacks. They also have damaged our trucks, including tampering with gas tanks, disconnecting hoses, and slashing tires. Police reports have been filed.”
Republic said it empathizes with customers who have been impacted by Teamsters’ decision to stop work. For the latest service information, customers can call 781-289-0500.
On the other hand, Teamsters Local Union No. 25 President and Principal Officer Thomas Mari said Republic Services is “blatantly lying to the public and media about negotiations.
“This multi-billion-dollar giant corporation has refused to return to the bargaining table and has not communicated at all with the union or the federal mediator since last Thursday, July 3. Instead, Republic Services continues to spread false information and once again lied last night when sending a press release to the media falsely claiming, ‘We stand ready to meet at any time with the Teamsters when they are ready to re-engage.’
“This is a lie, plain and simple,” Mari said.
“Republic knows exactly what it will take to settle this strike. Instead, it would rather spread falsehoods than deal with the reality it faces,” said Mari.
An email Mari sent to Republic on July 10 at 5:22 a.m. reads, “I saw on the news that Republic is now telling the press they are waiting on the Teamsters?”
It continued, “We are ready to meet 24/7 7 days a week, just to be clear. Stop playing games and get the deal done. You know exactly what it will take. We will wait for a time and location.”
There seems to be no end in sight to the negotiations, meaning it is up to local communities to remedy this situation themselves for the time being.
LYNN
According to Lisa Nerich, Lynn Department of Public Works associate commissioner, the Republic Services trash strike is solely affecting those who utilize Republic for private property since the City does not contract with them.
“While our trash-collection services remain operational at this time, we are aware of the work stoppage affecting neighboring communities and understand the significant impact such disruptions can have on public health, sanitation, and daily life,” Nerich said.
LYNNFIELD
Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin said the Town is trying to keep residents as informed as possible, acknowledging the frustration arising in such “uncertain” circumstances.
“We are doing all we can to see this through and correct any problems that arise,” Curtin said. He recommended residents check Facebook and the town website for the most recent updates.
An updated trash and recycling schedule was posted by the Town, announcing that trash will be collected with a one-day delay.
Until negotiations resume between the two parties, the Town has no leverage over the strikes.
“Strikers don’t negotiate with us,” Curtin explained. “They’re not responsible for providing us with any updates.”
Accumulating trash is “certainly a concern,” he said. However, no public health problems have been reported by the Department of Health so far.
Mari told the Daily Item Lynnfield Attorneys have delivered notice to Republic Services “that the trash giant is in danger of losing its contract due to non-performance and the ongoing strike by Teamsters Local 25 members.”
He said that Lynnfield “delivered a Notice of Non-Performance and Demand for Remedy to Republic Services.”
Mari said this legal action “is more proof that Republic Services has been failing to deliver adequate services during the strike and that Republic Services has been untruthful to the public and media about the level of service it is providing in these communities.”
MARBLEHEAD
While some communities have been left scrambling by the strike, Marblehead has kept operations moving, albeit with considerable challenges, thanks in large part to its Town-owned Transfer Station, which is open to all residents and does not require a sticker during the strike.
However, the temporary staff Republic has contracted are unfamiliar with Marblehead’s complex network of nearly 300 narrow, winding streets. The collection has become sporadic at best.
In response, the Town has suspended curbside recycling collection and is focusing solely on trash pickup. Missed streets are logged daily and submitted to Republic in the hope drivers will circle back the next day, though follow-up has proven inconsistent. Residents are advised not to put out recycling curbside and instead hold onto it or bring it directly to the Transfer Station. Any street that is repeatedly missed should be reported daily to the Health Department via email so it can be added to the missed collection list.
The Board of Health has received numerous calls, texts, online messages, and between 100-500 emails per day from frustrated residents seeking updates. Board of Health member Tom McMahon said his consistent message has been the same: “If you can bring it up to the Transfer Station yourself, do it.”
The Transfer Station, which typically sees around 1,000 vehicles on its busiest days, is now handling several thousand cars per day. Staff are working extended hours to manage the overwhelming volume of material, especially recycling, and are increasing efforts to verify residency to prevent non-Marblehead residents from using the Transfer Station.
The Transfer Station team has received widespread praise for their tireless work. In a show of community support, Marbleheader Steve Elliott and his 3-year-old grandson even brought popsicles for the crew on a sweltering 100-degree day.
While there’s no word yet on when the strike will end, officials are preparing for the long haul.
PEABODY
In a statement on July 9, Mayor of Peabody Edward A. Bettencourt announced stalled negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters, mentioning significant delays in trash pickup throughout the city.
Latest information from Republic noted they would only be picking up trash this week, not recycling. The delays are expected to continue, and residents should expect multiple days of holdup.
“I want to be very clear that Republic Services is failing in their service to the City of Peabody and is in clear violation of the terms of the contract with the City,” Bettencourt said, as some neighborhoods have not been picked up since the beginning of the strike on July 1.
“This is unacceptable,” he added.
Along with the city attorney, the financial director, and the Health Department, Bettencourt is exploring all legal options to hold Republic accountable and “get our community’s trash pickup back on a regular schedule.”
He apologized for the lack of specifics and guaranteed his best efforts to provide residents with information as he receives it.
SWAMPSCOTT
Interim Town Administrator and Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW) Gino Cresta spoke with the Daily Item on Friday morning, when he elaborated on the latest updates from Republic Services and the current status of negotiations.
“Republic Services has told us that they have been negotiating in good faith, and hope to have the strike settled soon. As far as trash and recycling pick up, Republic has told me that their goal is to have all five routes picked up by the end of the day Saturday,” Cresta said. “They said the only way this could happen was if we forgo recycling pick up for the week.”
This would allow for two trucks to concentrate on trash daily as opposed to one truck on trash and one on recycling, Cresta explained.
“I’m not optimistic that all the trash routes will be completed by Saturday. Therefore, I have opened up the DPW Yard for both trash and recycling drop off. The hours for drop off are Friday 3-7 p.m., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
With the current trash pick ups having fallen behind this week, the town released a statement on Wednesday telling residents that recycling collection was paused in order to focus on trash, which would be in effect until the end of the week.
