Twelve leaders of communities being affected by the strike of Republic Services workers this week have called on the company and the Teamsters union to return to the negotiation table, saying their residents and businesses have been severely impacted by the strike.
They also criticized Republic for a lack of timely communication, delayed deployment of backup workers, and for causing potential public health emergencies as a result.
The mayors, town managers, town administrators and city manager shared the message to Republic in a joint-letter Thursday. They represented Peabody, Beverly, Danvers, Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Canton, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Malden, Swampscott, Wakefield and Watertown.
“Reliable curbside waste and recycling collection is an essential public service, and this disruption has had significant ripple effects throughout our communities,” the officials said in the letter.
“While we fully respect the collective bargaining process, we strongly urge all parties to return to the negotiating table in good faith to reach a fair and timely resolution. As the impasse continues, the impacts on our residents, businesses, and municipal operations will undoubtedly become increasingly difficult to manage,” they wrote.
Included in the letter was a link to an online meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday that officials requested Republic’s leadership attend.
Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill told The Salem News later that afternoon that Republic did attend the meeting. Danvers Assistant Town Manager Jen Breaker called it “a productive meeting,” and said the town looks forward to more timely communication in the coming days.
Republic’s waste collection employees, represented by Teamsters Local 25, have been on strike since early Tuesday. Union officials said they were pushed to strike because Republic refused to provide adequate pay, benefits and working conditions in its latest contract negotiations, which the company refuted.
Negotiations stalled leading up to July 1, when the union’s last contract expired.
Republic said in a statement earlier this week that it has brought in workers from other areas to collect waste and carry out its municipal contracts. But the response hasn’t reached every town, and municipalities have had to expand services at their transfer stations or public works sites to help collect residents’ waste.
“The pace at which contingency plans and substitute crews have been mobilized has been concerning,” the letter said. “Several communities are expected to be without service for extended periods of time with little clarity on when or how coverage will resume.”
The company delayed trash pickup by a day in Peabody this week, while telling Danvers it is not going to pick up trash at all until Monday. Beverly was originally told the same, but convinced Republic to resume collection following lengthy discussions with officials.
On Thursday, Beverly officials said trash will be picked up on Friday in neighborhoods with a scheduled pick-up day on Wednesday. Those with a Thursday pick-up schedule will have their trash collected on Saturday, and Friday neighborhoods should put their trash out on Monday, the city said. The normal collection schedule will be delayed by one day starting next week, with Monday’s pick-up scheduled for Tuesday. Residents should only put out trash, not recycling.
Affected communities where trash collection has resumed, though on modified schedules, are largely not seeing recycling collection.
A lack of timely communication during the strike and the negotiation period leading up to it between Republic and municipal leaders has hindered officials’ abilities to keep residents informed, come up with contingency plans and manage local expectations, they said.
“The absence of unified communication to all impacted municipalities has contributed to confusion and frustration,” the letter reads. “A coordinated, transparent approach is essential to managing public trust and maintaining continuity of service.”
While residents have been instructed to not leave their waste on the curb unless otherwise instructed, bags of trash and full recycling buckets have still been seen in these communities, left to sit out and rot on the sidewalk.
“The impacts of stored and/or stockpiled trash and the potential of illegal dumping leave the communities in a position to remedy public health impacts.”
Officials called on Republic to hold regular meetings to update municipal leaders on negotiations and service during the strike, during which leaders can also ask questions.
“Once again, we continue to respect the collective bargaining process and the rights of workers to negotiate fair terms,” they said. “At the same time, we expect clearer, more proactive communication and contingency planning moving forward.”
The letter was signed by Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga, Danvers Town Manager Jill Cahill, Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill, Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Canton Town Administrator Charles E. Doody, Ipswich Interim Town Manager Thomas Younger, Lynnfield Town Administrator Robert Dolan, Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, Manchester-by-the-Sea Town Administrator Tony Barletta, Swampscott Interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta, Wakefield Interim Town Administrator Kevin Gill, and Watertown City Manager George Proakis.
The Teamsters went on strike after Republic refused to pay the same wages and benefits that other Teamsters members have negotiated at similar companies in the area, including Capitol Waste and Star Waste Systems, the union said in a statement Thursday.
“This strike is all about fairness, equity and maintaining the area standards established by Local 25,” Teamsters Local 25 President Thomas G. Mari said in the statement. “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.”
Striking employees at Republic make several dollars an hour less than competitors, despite the company making $16 billion in revenue last year, the Teamsters said. They also have less comprehensive health insurance plans than those negotiated by fellow union members at other waste collection companies, they said.
“The strike will take as long as necessary to make certain that Republic Teamsters get what they’ve rightfully earned,” Mari said. “We’re not looking for Republic to pay more than others. We just want them to meet the standards we’ve already established in Greater Boston.”
Republic has criticized its employees for going on strike.
In a statement Wednesday night, Republic said its negotiating team met with the Teamsters and a federal mediator that day, but the Teamsters “did not match our willingness to achieve a new contract.
“The company presented terms that addressed the union’s stated interests and could have resolved the contract dispute,” according to Republic’s statement. “The Teamsters rejected them without providing a counter. Republic Services believes the union is putting its own self-interests ahead of its union members and the communities they serve.”
Republic already provides a “competitive wage, industry-leading benefits plans and a generous holiday and paid time off program,” the company said.
Republic has accused picketers of preventing Republic vehicles from leaving the company’s property and slashing tires on vehicles.
Peabody police Lt. David Bonfanti said Thursday afternoon there have been no arrests or reports of property damage at Republic’s Peabody locations while striking members picketed on the sidewalks there.
A Republic trash truck was temporarily blocked by picketers during a pick-up, but the situation was “promptly resolved without further issue,” Bonfanti said.
“The Peabody Police Department is working collaboratively with both the striking workers and Republic management to ensure the safe and orderly movement of trucks on and off Republic’s property,” he said.
Contact Caroline Enos at CEnos@northofboston.com.