Trash will be collected during the week of July 21, but recycling remains suspended as the Teamsters Local 25 strike continues.
Yard waste will not be accepted during this time.
The Teamsters Local 25 strike has entered its third week. Teamsters spokesperson Matt McQuaid has not responded to repeated requests for details on the union’s demands, while Republic Services continues to make its own claims.
The strike began on Tuesday, July 1, disrupting trash collection for more than 400,000 residents across Massachusetts. Republic Services has contracts for trash pickup in 14 cities and towns across the Commonwealth, including Swampscott. Republic Services alleges that the strike has involved the theft of a garbage truck, slashed tires, chemical assaults on drivers, blocked access to trucks, and hate speech toward employees.
Last week, Republic Services filed a complaint in U.S. District Court accusing the union and its officials of unlawful actions including intimidation, vandalism, theft, and trespassing.
“Republic Services is focused on facts and reaching an agreement that provides our employees with market-leading pay and benefits, while Teamsters leadership is focused on disinformation and disruption,” the company’s media relations told the Swampscott Tides.
Six communities—Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody, and Malden—also filed a joint complaint last week, requesting judicial intervention in the strike.A hearing will be held at 2 p.m. today in Salem Superior Court.
Republic Services and the Teamsters met with a federal mediator on Friday, but the company said negotiations “ended earlier than we wanted.”
Local 25 President Tom Mari reportedly accused the company of “stonewalling” the union.
“It’s shocking, and increasingly disgusting, how far Republic Services is willing to push its workforce. Our members are everyday Americans performing essential services across our communities, but Republic is unwilling to offer workers good wages, decent benefits, or a fair contract,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien. “The American public needs to understand that Republic Services and its overpaid, corrupt executives own this strike. Their greed is forcing trash collectors and waste haulers across the country out into the street. We don’t want this garbage piling up. We want to return to work. But we refuse to be exploited.”
Republic Services told the Swampscott Tides that it offered to increase wages 16% immediately and 43% over the life of the contract.
“Republic Services remains committed to our employees and the communities we serve. We want to welcome our team back to work with the industry-leading pay and benefits they deserve,” the Republic Services Media Relations said.. The Teamsters appear willing to sacrifice employee paychecks and community needs to advance their own agenda rather than supporting the employees they claim to support.”
The next negotiation session is not scheduled at the time of publication.
In Swampscott, the Department of Public Waste yard, at 20 Paradise Road, will be open to residents to drop-off their recycling on Friday, July 25 from 3 to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents whose trash has not been collected within 24 hours of the scheduled pick-up time are encouraged to contact Swampscott Town Hall at 781-596-8850 or Republic Services at 781-289-0500.
Updated information is also sent out through the town’s communication systems.
