Trash Strike Update: MA Congress Delegation Demands Republic Bargain To End Work Stoppage

PEABODY, MA — The nine members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark this weekend, urging the company to resume negotiations with striking sanitation workers immediately and to reach an agreement to end the 28-day work stoppage.

More than a dozen North Shore and Greater Boston cities and towns continued to experience collection delays and gaps in trash, recycling and yard waste pickup on Monday as the Teamsters Local 25 Union strike against Republic Services entered a fifth week with no new bargaining sessions scheduled.

"The more than 400 members of Teamsters Local 25 employed by Republic Services in Massachusetts are delivering essential waste and recycling collection services to residents, businesses, and construction sites," the lawmakers' letter said. "Every community deserves high-quality municipal services, including waste management, but not at the expense of a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits, especially affordable, accessible healthcare coverage, that support your workers, their families, and the communities they serve and contribute to on and off the clock.

"This contract represents an opportunity for Republic Services to acknowledge the vital role your company, through the sweat equity of your employees, plays in our communities and to bring the wages and benefits in line with the industry standards. We urge you to prioritize face-to-face negotiations with the bargaining unit and to lean into difficult conversations with the workers who are the backbone of a company as important to our economy and communities as Republic Services."

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt said in a message to the community on Monday afternoon that the last negotiating session between the sanitation workers' union and the company occurred back on July 18.

"There are continued reports of late pickups, so please expect a one- to two-day delay," Bettencourt said.

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"We are concerned about the lack of scheduled negotiation sessions, and we strongly urge you to return to the bargaining table in good faith and without delay, to negotiate a contract that reflects the dignity of this work, one that ensures fair pay, quality benefits, and a safe workplace," said the delegation, which includes U.S. Reps. Jake Auchincloss, Katherine Clark, William Keating, Jim McGovern, Stephen Lynch, Seth Moulton, Richard Neal, Ayanna Pressley and Lori Trahan.
"Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter."

In Beverly, residents were told to expect pickup on regular collection days, but that "we are aware that Republic keeps missing streets."

"We are working to get Republic to restart recycling as soon as possible," Beverly officials said.

In Ipswich, where some recycling routes had recently resumed, residents were told that recycling would once again be suspended this week.

Danvers officials said that the town's recycling dropoff events will continue this week "as we assess how curbside collection progresses."

"We are in regular communication with other communities where recycling collection has resumed, and they are reporting inconsistent or sporadic service," Danvers officials said. "We anticipate a similar experience in Danvers and ask for your continued patience and understanding as service is gradually restored."

Teamsters were back on the picket lines on Monday in Peabody, Revere, Holbrook, Roxbury and Quincy as they said they are seeking better pay, time off and health insurance improvements. Local Union 25 said there were 450 workers picketing across the country as of Monday.

Officials from six North Shore and Greater Boston cities and towns were in Salem Superior Court last week to press their case for health violation citations and additional resources from Republic Services amid the strike.

Beverly, Malden, Gloucester, Peabody, Danvers and Canton officials filed the complaint for injunctive relief to abate the public health nuisance resulting from what the communities called "Republic's failure to adequately collect and dispose of trash and recycling in our communities."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)