Only trash will be collected this week, as recycling remains delayed amid the ongoing Republic Services union strike.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, July 1, is affecting more than 400,000 residents across Massachusetts. Trash and recycling services in Swampscott have faced ongoing delays since resuming on Monday, July 7. Trash from both Friday, July 11, and Tuesday, July 15, will be collected on Monday, July 14, according to the town.
Republic Services told the Swampscott Tides that the Teamsters reached out on Thursday to request mediation.
“Unfortunately, the Teamsters did not take the negotiations seriously and refused to make any meaningful progress,” the company’s media relations told the Swampscott Tides.
The Teamsters have not responded to a request for comment as of Monday, despite inquiries made on Thursday.
Though the Teamsters initiated mediation, they issued a press statement Thursday accusing Republic Services of “threatening a war with American workers for years — and now, they’ve got one.”
“Republic abuses and underpays workers across the country. They burn massive profits and funnel money to undeserving, corrupt executives,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said. “The Teamsters have had it with Republic. We will flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state. Workers are uniting nationwide, and we will get the wages and benefits we’ve earned, come hell or high water.”
Republic Services stated that 45% of its Greater Boston union drivers earned more than $100,000 last year, and that the company covers 100% of medical premiums for those employees.
On Friday, Republic Services said it “made a formal proposal” including a nearly 16% immediate wage increase and an estimated 43% raise over five years for Greater Boston employees. If accepted, the company said, drivers would have earned around $140,000 annually by the contract’s end.
Friday’s mediation marked the eleventh meeting between the two parties, two of which included a federal mediator.
“It is time for the Teamsters to get serious about negotiations so our employees can return to work,” the Republic Services Media Relations said. “We are confident that our most recent proposal meets all of our employees’ demands, and we expect the Teamsters to bargain in the best interest of our employees.”
The mediator has asked both sides to return to the table on Tuesday, July 15.
In Swampscott, the Department of Public Works yard, at 200 Paradise Road, will be open Friday, July 18, from 3 to 7 p.m., and again on Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to accept both trash and recycling.
