Latest news with #JohnGioia
San Francisco Chronicle
16-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area trash piles up as Republic Services strike enters second week
A nationwide solidarity strike that spread to Bay Area garbage collection workers entered its second week on Monday, as odorous bags piled up in residential areas across the region amid a contract standoff. 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.'
San Francisco Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area trash pickups delayed as Republic Services workers strike
Thousands of Bay Area residents whose trash is picked up by Republic Services are experiencing service interruptions due to a nationwide strike by the Teamsters union against the garbage giant. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union, which represents nearly 8,000 Republic waste workers in the U.S., accused the company of refusing to settle fair contracts 'despite months of negotiations.' The union said Republic has used union-busting tactics and illegal threats instead of bargaining in good faith, though they did not specify what those tactics were. 'Republic Services has been threatening a war with American workers for years — and now, they've got one,' said Teamsters General President Sean M. O'Brien in a statement. 'Republic abuses and underpays workers across the country. They burn massive profits and funnel money to undeserving, corrupt executives. The Teamsters have had it with Republic. We will flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state. Workers are uniting nationwide, and we will get the wages and benefits we've earned, come hell or high water.' The strike, which began this week, is affecting numerous Bay Area cities. The affected areas include: San Jose, Fairfield, Suisun, San Pablo, Richmond, Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo, Crockett, El Sobrante, Piedmont, Fremont, Union City, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, Newark, and more, according to an NBC Bay Area report. 'Republic Services is in contract negotiations with the union representing our employees at Forward Landfill in Manteca, CA,' said a Republic Services statement posted on social media by Daly City officials. 'As a result, we are experiencing temporary service delays in some parts of the Bay Area, including Daly City, related to this work stoppage.' 'Still no garbage collection today,' Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said on social media Wednesday morning. 'If your cart is full, bag any extra garbage and place it next to the cart to be picked up when service resumes, anticipated later this week.'
