Following numerous Facebook complaints about missed trash pickups or only recycling being collected, Swampscott announced that both trash and recycling for Monday and Tuesday routes will be picked up on July 8.

Swampscott’s trash and recycling services have been disrupted since Republic Services workers went on strike a week ago. Although the town announced that Monday’s pickup would proceed as planned, many residents reported that their trash remained uncollected. Swampscott’s town Facebook posted late Monday that “those of you whose trash is picked up Monday will have their trash and recycling picked up Tuesday, July 8.” 

Some recycling was collected along the Monday route, according to observations by the Swampscott Tides.

Waste collection workers are picketing across the North Shore, demanding higher wages, better benefits, and stronger labor protections. Teamsters spokesman Matt McQuaid declined to comment on the status of negotiations or provide specific details about the union’s demands.

Now entering its second week, the strike is affecting more than 400,000 residents. The strike has also started to spread nationwide, with Teamsters in Ottawa, Illinois, joining the picket line just a day after their Massachusetts counterparts. Teamsters Local 396 in Southern California voted to authorize a strike on Thursday.

“This strike is all about fairness, equity, and maintaining the area standards established by Local 25,” said Thomas Mari, the president of Teamsters Local 25. “I have never seen a group of workers who are so united and committed to making certain they are able to enjoy the same pay and benefits as people who are doing the exact same job at another employer.”

Mari emphasized that the strike “will take as long as necessary.”

Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 met with a federal mediator on Wednesday, July 2, but the trash company claimed that the Teamsters did not “match our willingness to achieve a new contract.”

Republic Services Media Relations told the Swampscott Tides that it provides “our Greater Boston employees with competitive wages, an industry-leading health care plan, pension plan and a generous time-off and holiday plan.”

In a press release, the Teamsters claimed that Republic Services “acknowledges its wage schedule is several dollars below competitors” and that its health plan is less comprehensive than the Teamsters Plan used by Local 25 members at other regional sanitation companies.

To resume service in Swampscott, Republic Services has “pulled staff from other areas of the country,” according to the company.

Residents are also advised not to put out stickered bulk items this week.