'No End In Sight': Exasperation As North Shore Trash Strike Nears 2-Month Mark

PEABODY, MA — North Shore and Greater Boston municipal leaders expressed a collective, growing sense of exasperation and resignation as the sanitation workers' strike against Republic Services approached the two-month mark this week with little indication that the sides are ready to end the contract impasse.

While Danvers Town Manager Jill Cahill acknowledged ongoing frustrations among residents about the ongoing suspension of bulky item collection, and said she is "actively discussing solutions with Republic and exploring alternative options to support residents." She added that she is pausing her weekly open updates amid a lack of movement on the strike affecting Danvers and 13 other cities and towns since the strike began on July 1.

"Over the past few weeks, we've seen steady improvements in curbside trash and recycling collection throughout town — an encouraging development as we continue to navigate this evolving situation," she said. "The town continues to meet regularly with Republic Services to monitor operations and advocate on behalf of our residents. We're also working closely with neighboring communities experiencing similar challenges to coordinate efforts and share solutions.

"These collaborations help us keep your needs at the forefront."

• 'Beyond Untenable': North Shore Trash Strike Nears 8th Week With No New Talks
• MA Congress Delegation Demands Republic Bargain To End Work Stoppage
• Beverly Officials Decry Broken Promises, Eye Financial Recourse Amid Trash Strike
• Trash Strike 'Odors, Rats' Update: North Shore Officials In Court, No New Negotiations
• Swampscott Withholds Republic Payments, Shuns Lawsuit
• 'Very Unsettling Time': Peabody Cites Contract Breach, Withholds Payments Amid Trash Strike

Swampscott Interim Town Administrator Gino Cresta told the Select Board last week that his communication with Republic indicated there was "no end in sight" to the work stoppage.

As recycling pickups remain sporadic, Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said that city received an exemption from the state Department of Environmental Protection to allow residents to include recycling material in trash and garbage disposal.

He said the decision was based on "the high percentage of contamination and the public health concerns caused by recycling, much of which has accumulated since late June, and have in many cases been outside, subject to the elements and to scavengers for up to a month and a half."

"While definitely not ideal," he said, "this will hopefully get the hauler, Republic Services, caught up and prevent significant health problems."

Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari said in a statement Friday that Republic Services representatives told the union that the company would only return to the bargaining table if it withdraws its demand for Teamster health insurance in advance of the talks.

"Are you kidding me?" Mari said in a statement. "There's no way Republic can or should impose conditions for us to resume bargaining. We've already filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Republic because they're not bargaining in good faith. We can add this demand to the list. Apparently, Republic would rather spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their lawyers fighting Local 25 at the NLRB and in Federal Court than sitting across from us and bargaining in good faith.

"As I've said many times before, there is only one place this strike will be settled and that's at the bargaining table. It's time to get serious. Local 25 will continue this strike until Republic matches what our members already enjoy for wages and health insurance with Capitol and Star.

"It's time to get the contract done."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)