Updated: Republic Services employees across the US stage strikes

The Teamsters Local 25 chapter in Charlestown, Massachusetts, has announced that about 450 of its members who work for Phoenix-based waste and recycling company Republic Services Inc. have started a strike in the Boston area. It's part of a growing wave of coordinated labor actions by Teamsters at Republic Services locations across the country.

Members of Teamsters Local 179 in Ottawa, Illinois, began picketing Wednesday, July 2, as part of a strike at Republic Services. On July 3, Teamsters Local 396, representing recently organized workers at EQ Environmental Services/Republic Services, voted to authorize a strike. On July 8, members of Teamsters Local 728 in Cumming, Georgia, and Teamsters Local 439 in Stockton, California, launched a strike. And on July 9, Teamsters Local 252 members in Lacey, Washington, followed suit with a work stoppage.

“These workers perform dangerous, high-stakes jobs that protect our communities and environment every single day,” says Victor Mineros, secretary-treasurer of Local 396 and director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division. “They deserve a contract that respects their contributions—not lowball proposals and corporate stonewalling. The company must bargain in good faith.”

According to the Washington-based International Brotherhood of Teamsters, primary picket lines could extend nationwide and result in a work stoppage for more than 3,500 Teamsters. Republic Teamsters are demanding a contract with improved wages, better benefits and stronger labor protections.

Teamsters Local 25 says its workers were "forced" to go on strike by Republic, adding that the action will disrupt waste and recycling collection services for hundreds of thousands of residents throughout the Boston area.

“Republic Teamsters didn’t start this fight, but we will finish it," Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien says in a news release. "Our members will do whatever it takes to finally get the respect they’re owed.”

Adds Victor Mineros, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division and Teamsters Western Region international vice president, "This fight isn’t just in Boston. From California to Massachusetts, Teamsters nationwide are dealing with the same problems with this company. If Republic doesn’t get its act together quickly, we will make an example of this employer for its mistreatment of our members. American workers deserve better.”

Although Mineros points to strife between Teamsters and Republic, the two entities reached agreements on contracts in Nevada last May and in two different parts of northern Illinois last June and in September of 2023.

On Tuesday morning, July 1, Republic Services provided the following statement to Recycling Today Media Group:

"It is disappointing that the union called a work stoppage rather than continue negotiating in good faith toward a fair and competitive contract that benefits our employees and our customers. A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve.  

"We currently provide our greater Boston employees with competitive wages, an industry-leading healthcare plan, pension plan and a generous time-off and holiday plan. We value our employees and entered negotiations intending to raise wages.

"We planned for the possibility of a work stoppage and have taken several steps to continue providing service, including securing Republic Services employees from other areas, prioritizing routes and optimizing routing efficiency.

"Many customers may experience a modified service schedule as a result of the union’s work stoppage. We will communicate any schedule changes to customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

"We are committed to continuing discussions with the union and remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached soon."

On July 8, Republic issued the following statement: 

"On Monday, July 7, and today, our collection trucks provided service to all municipalities, including:

• Beverly
• Canton
• Danvers
• Gloucester
• Ipswich
• Lynnfield
• Malden
• Manchester-by-the-Sea
• Marblehead
• North Reading
• Peabody
• Swampscott
• Wakefield
• Watertown
  

We expect this level of service to continue throughout the week."

This story was updated July 1 to add the statement from Republic Services. This story was updated July 2 to provide details on an Ottawa strike and a new statement from Republic. This story was updated July 7 to provide details on a California strike, on July 8 to provide details on strikes in Stockton, California, and Cumming, Georgia, and on July 9 to provide details on a strike in Lacey, Washington.