Meanwhile, city officials across the Bay Area are urging Republic Services to reach an agreement with union members to end the labor action. Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi demanded in a social media post on Thursday that the company resolve “the trash situation” by sitting down with workers and union leaders.
Fugazi also called on Republic Services to provide customers with a refund for the services delayed by the strike, adding that the city will end its contract with the company if the situation is not resolved.
“There are fast food workers who are making more than our waste haul employees,” Fugazi said in her Facebook post. “That’s not right, and we need to get this trash picked up. Republic Services, they’re willing to sit at the table with you. They’re available 24/7 to settle this contract and get back to work.”
City officials in Daly City, Fairfield and Suisun City have also threatened to pursue legal action against Republic Services if services do not resume. The company has been warned that it is “in violation of our contract,” Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy said on Facebook.
By the numbers: Last year, Republic Services reported a net income of $512 million — a more than $70 million increase from 2023. Meanwhile, negotiations between the company and striking workers demanding better wages and benefits have been fruitless. Teamsters leaders noted that competitors offer better compensation packages, and workers are demanding that Republic Services follow suit.
“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,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “We don’t want this garbage piling up. We want to return to work. But we refuse to be exploited.”
The bottom line: Bay Area city officials were calling on the company to compensate residents and to reach a contract agreement with the union as soon as possible. It is likely that residents would continue to see reduced collection services as long as the strike continued, although cities and the company were working to find temporary solutions.
