Massachusetts Garbage Workers On Strike

Read our editorial on the significance of strikes here.

More than 450 Massachusetts trash collection workers for Republic Services, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 25 (IBT), are on strike as of July 1st. For over a week, workers have been picketing at several locations, disrupting the trash collection services in the greater Boston Area. The workers are fighting for fair wages, better health benefits, paid time off, and more protections. Republic has claimed that their workers are payed competitive wages, however, workers claim that Republic refused to pay the same rates as two competing companies who’s workers are also represented by the same Teamsters Local. Last year, Republic’s revenue exceeded $16 billion with a 7.1% growth in revenue over the previous year. Workers maintained that Republic has refused to meet them at the bargaining table.

“The cost of living in Massachusetts is outrageous,” said one worker to monopoly press. “The money we’re getting paid is way under what it costs to survive nowadays. Right now, I’m just staying afloat.”In a public statement the IBT said, “Republic acknowledges its wage schedule is several dollars below its competitors, as well as the fact that its health insurance plan is not as comprehensive as the Teamsters Plan enjoyed by Local 25 members at other sanitation employers throughout the region. Yet the company still refuses to agree to provide the same wages or health care.”

On Monday (07/07), Republic announced that it would be bringing in workers from other states to maintain services. As in Philadelphia, trash continued to pile up over the holiday weekend, baking in the summer heat, and residents are complaining about the stench and local wildlife and vermin attracted to the trash. Other residents in the area have also started small-scale scabbing, charging neighbors and businesses to haul trash in either commercial or personal vehicles. There have been reports of the striking workers slashing tires and confronting the scabs both among residents and those Republic has brought on. Republic has made statements condemning the workers as criminals and “outside agitators”. The IBT have thus far refused to make comment on the combative actions of the striking workers.

The strike has spread to cities across the country, with a Teamsters press release on Wednesday stating that “More than 2,000 Teamsters are currently on strike or actively honoring picket lines in major cities across the country. More strike extensions are expected in the coming hours and days.”

Photo credit: IBT

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