Bay Area trash piles up as Republic Services strike enters second week
Thousands of residents whose trash is picked up by Republic Services have been experiencing service interruptions due to a nationwide strike against the garbage giant that was announced last week by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union, which represents nearly 8,000 Republic waste workers across the U.S.
Some parts of the Bay Area were informed that trash collection — but not recycling or green waste — would gradually resume by Monday, but for many it had not. In West Contra Costa County, Republic Services said some customers might have trash collected — as drivers were brought in from out of state — but the company couldn't provide certainty of whether and when that would happen.
'We empathize with the community's frustration and ask for their continued patience during this Teamsters-led work stoppage,' Republic said in a statement Tuesday. 'We want nothing more than to welcome our employees back to work.'
County Supervisor John Gioia said in a social media post that he would seek 'rate relief' for Republic customers affected by the suspension of trash collection.
Many cities, including Hercules and Pinole, asked residents to take their garbage to specified drop off sites.
The city of Richmond alerted residents to place their garbage-only bins out for limited trash collection from Monday through Saturday. Residents in West Contra Costa County also have the option of bringing up to four bags of trash to the Golden Bear Transfer Station at 1 Parr Blvd. at no cost.
'Republic has brought in limited support, allowing for sporadic collection of both residential and commercial accounts,' Half Moon Bay officials said in an alert sent to residents on Tuesday. 'Collections are currently focused on trash, with a separate recycling pickup occurring today. This limited service model is expected to continue until the strike is resolved and normal operations resume.'
However, some trash collection services were at a halt and residents' frustrations were mounting. In Daly City, residents can drop off up to two bags of trash per household at dumpsters staged near the Public Works Corporation Yard at 798 Niantic Ave and a second site at 153 Lake Merced Blvd, officials said.
The strike originated in the Boston area, where more than 400 Republic Service workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 have been on strike since July 1. Since then, Republic Service workers across the country have joined the strike out of solidarity. Over 2,000 Republic workers are on strike or honoring picket lines, the Teamsters said on Tuesday, adding that picket lines had extended to Los Angeles and Youngstown, Ohio.
'Our members are everyday Americans performing essential services across our communities, but Republic is unwilling to offer workers good wages, decent benefits, or a fair contract,' said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien in a statement Tuesday. 'The American public needs to understand that Republic Services and its overpaid, corrupt executives own this strike. Their greed is forcing trash collectors and waste haulers across the country out into the street. We don't want this garbage piling up. We want to return to work. But we refuse to be exploited.'
Republic Services told the Chronicle in a statement that it was unable to come to an agreement with the Teamsters during Tuesday's negotiations. Further negotiation between the two sides is not yet scheduled, officials said.
'We have been negotiating with the Teamsters since October to reach an agreement that is beneficial to our forward landfill employees and our customers,' said the statement. 'These negotiations do not involve the majority of our employees in Northern California, but union representatives have intimidated and threatened our drivers if they cross the picket line. This tactic does not benefit our employees or the community.'
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