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CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Officials worried as trash piles up at Massachusetts high school weeks before classes set to start
Classes are set to begin in the next few weeks at one Massachusetts high school, but concerns are growing as trash continues to pile up outside the building amid the ongoing trash collectors' strike. City Councilor at large Karen Colon Hayes paid a visit to Malden High School on Saturday, where the trash overflows out of dumpsters. "This is worse than I thought. But when school starts, I don't know. We are not going to have this go on. There are going to be kids with tons of garbage. They're going to be eating lunch here, and they're going to be outside, and this is not safe," Colon Hayes said. The trash collectors at Republic Services, part of Teamsters Local Union 25, walked off the job on July 1 over negotiations about wages, health insurance, and other issues, leaving 14 Massachusetts communities without trash collection. The strike has entered week seven with no sign of stopping soon. "They know you have to empty the schools. It just doesn't happen as often as it needs to be. They'll get a truck over here this week," Department of Public Works director Bob Knox said. Teamsters Local 25 says they have met with Republic since July 18th. The workers voted to continue the strike on August 3. "We are hoping they can get to the table and get it resolved soon, to bring the men and women back to work, but certainly challenging times for our city," Knox said. Governor Maura Healey called on Republic to cut a deal with employees and end the strike in July. Malden residents have been dropping off their recyclables at the Ferry Way School, but that will end in the coming days. Meanwhile, residents continue to throw away their recyclables, frustrated over the entire situation. "It is very hard for us to have to deal with this on a day-to-day basis," Elizabeth Helms said.
CBS News
04-08-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Republic employees vote to continue trash collector strike
On Sunday, Republic employees voted to continue the strike that has lasted five weeks already and left cities and towns struggling to remove trash from their streets. The trash collectors at Republic, part of Teamsters Local Union 25, walked off the job July 1, over negotiations about wages, health insurance and other issues, leaving 14 Massachusetts communities without trash collection. Teamsters Local Union 25 President Tom Mari claimed, Republic has disrespected employees and refused to meet for "more than 15 days." The union reviewed an offer made by the company on July 18 before Republic employees voted by secret ballot to reject the offer and continue the strike. "The decision to stay on strike carried by 93%. It was a fantastic display of commitment after five weeks of the strike. In fact, a larger percentage of employees voted to continue the strike today than voted to strike on July 1," Mari said. The strike has left many communities struggling with piles of garbage and recycling, forcing them to take action. About three weeks into the strike, the communities of Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody and Malden brought suit to force Republic to pick up the garbage. Also, earlier this month, Governor Maura Healey called on Republic to cut a deal with employees and end the strike, saying, "Republic Services needs to come to the table and reach a fair deal - it's time to get people back to work and resume services to our communities as soon as possible." The town of Peabody even wrote a letter to Bill Gates asking for his help to end the strike. Republic has contracts for trash pickup in 14 cities and towns across Massachusetts and with businesses in other communities, including Newton and Boston. WBZ-TV asked Republic to comment on the allegation that they have not met to negotiate with employees for 15 days but has not heard back yet.
