Pressure mounts for trash giant Republic Services
By Jay TurnerThe pressure has been mounting for waste removal giant Republic Services to resolve its labor dispute with Teamsters Local 25 and get the striking employees back to work after another week of disrupted trash service in Canton and in communities across greater Boston.
On Friday, Canton leaders signed onto a second joint letter from impacted municipalities urging the company to work toward a speedy resolution to the work stoppage, which commenced on July 1 after negotiations with the Teamsters broke down.
“As municipal leaders and customers of Republic Services, we are growing more concerned by the day with the lack of resolution and the compounding consequences of this service interruption,” noted the joint letter, which was also signed by leaders from Malden, Peabody, Gloucester, Watertown, Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Swampscott, and Wakefield.
“First and foremost, the most effective and lasting solution to this crisis is a settled agreement,” the letter stated. “We continue to respect the collective bargaining process but urge both parties to return to the table with urgency and in good faith. Each day without resolution adds strain to our residents, our businesses, and our municipal operations and heightens the risk of broader public health impacts.”
Although Republic Services informed local leaders that crews from outside Massachusetts would be mobilized and begin curbside collection operations starting on July 7, the process has been slow and plagued with ongoing issues, they said.
“The current level of driver coverage and substitute crews is simply not meeting the basic needs of our communities,” the letter continued. “We urge Republic Services to act swiftly to expand interim staffing by bringing in additional drivers and resources to stabilize service in the short term.”
“In the absence of clear information and reliable service, the broader consequences of this disruption continue to grow,” the letter continued. “The financial burden on municipalities is mounting as we deploy emergency responses, address overflow issues, and fill service gaps resulting from the inadequate staffing and resources from Republic Services. At the same time, environmental conditions are deteriorating, with uncollected trash affecting neighborhoods, parks, and waterways. Public health concerns are escalating, particularly as restaurants struggle without a viable waste solution during the peak of their busy season. These impacts are substantial and must be acknowledged and addressed as part of any near-term response and future planning.”
Attorneys for at least some of the affected communities have since delivered formal notices to Republic Services threatening to void their contracts due to “non-performance.”
On Friday, representatives from Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 met with federal mediators in hopes of hammering out a solution, but the day ended without any “meaningful progress,” according to a Republic Services spokesperson.
During the session, the company said it made a “formal proposal that included a nearly 16 percent wage increase immediately and an approximate 43 percent pay increase over five years for [its] greater Boston employees …
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Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=132040
Posted by Jay Turner
on Jul 18 2025. Filed under News, Town Government.
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