Garbage Piles Up In San Diego County: Trash Service Stalls During A National Labor Dispute

SAN DIEGO, CA — Something stinks in San Diego cities served by Republic Services, as trash, recycling, and compost collection are delayed due to an extension of a national labor dispute.

Local workers are joining a nationwide strike of Republic Services workers. The workers are striking in solidarity with the Teamsters Local 439 in Stockton. Republic Services workers are not technically on strike, but consider working tantamount to “crossing a picket line.” Organizer Sal Abrica told Patch about standing in solidarity with their fellow workers, who are asking for higher wages, better health insurance, and pension benefits.

It's tantamount to refusing to cross a picket line, Abrica told Patch. Residential, commercial, and any services being provided by Republic Services will feel a slowing or be impacted by this strike line extension.

"As we share the same employer, Republic Services, the Chula Vista Local 542 unit is honoring the strike line from workers in both Boston and Stockton," he said. The trucks are lining up, refusing to cross the line to those homes and businesses who have hired Republic Services for trash pickup, due to unsafe working conditions and inadequate pay.

Work stoppages began in Boston, where more than 400 trash collectors walked off the job last week, and continued to Philadelphia, Illinois, and Atlanta. In the Bay Area, Republic Services employees in Fremont and Daly City began picketing earlier this week, holding signs reading “Hold Your Nose.”

Teamsters from all over the state are walking out to protest what they say are unsafe working conditions and inadequate pay.

Service delays were reported in Chula Vista, where, along with numerous residents, the largest hotel and convention center in the county recently opened. Though there were initial reports of possible service disruptions in Carlsbad, a representative from Republic Services has told Patch that work in Carlsbad was not disrupted at this time. It was not yet known how the cities would handle the lack of garbage pickup during the strike.

Republic Services released a statement promising that it is negotiating with workers and will make adjustments to its services. Patch has reached out for a statement regarding work stoppage in San Diego County. In Northern California, work stoppages are also taking place, the company said in a released statement. “Those employees are engaged in a temporary work stoppage and are picketing at other Republic Services locations in the area. As a result, we anticipate temporary service delays for some recycling and waste collection customers. We are making adjustments to our operations to ensure our ability to continue providing service during this situation. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this may cause.”

The San Diego County Local 542 will wait until the rubber meets the road. According to Abrica, more than 400 members are involved in the Boston labor dispute, and a few of their members were sent to the San Diego area to extend the strike line.

"The members of the 542 decided to honor the strike line and have parked multiple trucks," he said. "We have the extension on our contract to extend the strikeline during ongoing labor disputes, as long as it takes."

It's the same fight, trying to improve labor conditions and pay, and it is the reason the Teamsters stick together, he said.

"Being part of an organization that has each other's backs in times of need, especially in this industry, which is the 5th most dangerous in the nation, is crucial," he said. "Most of our members are only looking for safe working conditions and equipment. It's such a dangerous job, we have to improve the conditions so we can go to work and go home."

Neither unions nor management in California have indicated if there has been any forward movement with negotiations, and the strike could continue for days or weeks. In the meantime, residents are trying their best to make due.

“We put our garbage out today thinking they were going to pick it up, but apparently they went on strike in support of Stockton,” California resident David Villarreal told CBS News. “What can I do? At some point this garbage needs to get thrown away so it doesn't get piled in the street, so I either go to the dump, or I find somewhere to take it.”