Striking North Shore Trash Workers Reject Latest Republic Services Contract Offer

PEABODY, MA — Any hopes for an immediate end to the two-month-long sanitation workers' strike that has disrupted trash and recycling pickup across North Shore and Greater Boston communities throughout the summer were dashed once again when members of the Teamsters Local 25 overwhelmingly rejected the latest contract offer from Republic Services.

The union said its 400 employee members voted down the offer with more than 84 percent opposed as the strike continued into a 66th day on Thursday.

"This group is one of the strongest groups I’ve ever worked with in my more than three decades as a Teamster," said Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari. "Today's vote was another reminder that these workers are in this fight for industry-standard wages and benefits."

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• MA Congress Delegation Demands Republic Bargain To End Work Stoppage
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• Swampscott Withholds Republic Payments, Shuns Lawsuit
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The contract rejection came after some negotiations resumed last week following a stalemate that had been in place since the last bargaining session in July.

Gov. Maura Healey has repeatedly slammed the company for the lack of good-faith bargaining and reiterated this week that Republic is "outrageous" for not working harder to resolve the work stoppage.

"We've got communities that continue to suffer," she said at an event in Tewksbury. "This cannot continue. It's wrong."

Residents and businesses in 14 communities across the North Shore and Greater Boston continue to experience delays in trash pickup and, in some cases, weeks of no recycling pickup amid the strike.

"The 14 communities meet on a regular basis," Swampscott Interim Town Manager Gino Cresta said at Wednesday night's Select Board meeting. "It's our belief that if we were to reach out to another company (for pickup) now in desperate times, that they're going to hold us over a barrel whoever comes in. ...

"I wish I had better news for you regarding the strike, but unfortunately, (not)."

Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said in a community message on Wednesday night that Republic remains days behind in pickups, with Tuesday customers advised to hold off yet another day in putting out their trash.

"Hopefully, Republic will do better (on Thursday) and finish all regular Friday(Aug. 29) and Monday (Sept. 1) routes," the message said.

The union said the deal sought from Republic is the same that its other trash haulers work under with comparable companies.

"Today’s vote should be a strong message to Republic to come back to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable contract," Mari said. "We are ready to meet and make the deal, so we can go back to work."

(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.)