The ongoing trash strike affecting Watertown and surrounding communities shows no sign of resolution, as negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 ended without agreement on Friday.
The strike, initiated on July 1, has caused significant disruptions, prompting Watertown to hire external contractors to assist in trash collection since early July.
City Manager George Proakis has reached out to both Republic Services and the Teamsters, requesting an end to the strike, while also noting that Watertown will refrain from joining legal actions taken by six other communities for the time being.
In an announcement on Friday, the City of Watertown indicated that trash pickups would be extended into Saturday to make up for the areas that were missed during the week.
Additionally, the city will close the emergency trash and recycling drop-off site over the weekend, with plans to reopen on Monday, July 21, from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm for residents in need of overflow trash and recycling services.
Residents are advised to limit their drop-off to three bags of household trash or a similar volume of recycling and to show proof of Watertown residency upon arrival.
For missed pickups, the city has requested that residents wait 48 hours before reporting an issue, urging them to report only once between scheduled pickups through the City’s 311 Service Center or through the Watertown MA App.
Updates regarding the ongoing strike are being shared on the city’s website, while a recent interview with City Manager Proakis has addressed the disruptions encountered in trash and recycling services.
Negotiations were held for five hours on Friday but resulted in no agreement. The union characterized the session as unproductive and criticized Republic for failing to present a better wage offer, suggesting that their employees are being offered nearly $5 less than workers at similar companies.
In response, Republic Services stated that the Teamsters’ leadership is more focused on misinformation and disruption rather than the well-being of the workers.
Union representatives accuse Republic Services of being unwilling to compromise on critical issues, including wages and health insurance, alleging that the company has threatened punitive measures against employees engaging in picket line activities.
Conversely, Republic defended its proposals, claiming to have offered “industry-leading” wages, retirement plans, and zero-premium healthcare, while accusing union leaders of obstructing progress and engaging in intimidation tactics.
During the bargaining meeting, Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari expressed frustration over Republic’s response to their package offer, which included a significant lag in wages compared to competitors.
Mari accused Republic of lacking genuine interest in reaching a fair agreement, citing the company’s preference to engage in superficial negotiations rather than substantive discussions.
Additionally, negotiations ended with no future meeting dates being scheduled, thereby prolonging uncertainty for both workers and the residents waiting for trash services to return to normal.
While Teamsters Local 25’s negotiations continue, they are not alone, as other Teamsters members across the United States are also on strike and supporting picket lines.
In a contrasting statement, Republic Services emphasized it is committed to attaining a resolution while criticizing the union for its strategies, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing work stoppage.
Republic has pointed out that it has proposed immediate wage increases and superior benefits while accusing the Teamsters of making unreasonable demands that would interfere with their operations.
The situation remains fluid, and both parties are at an impasse, underscoring the complexities faced by employees, management, and the communities impacted by the strike.
As the strike is set to continue, residents are left to navigate ongoing trash pick-up challenges and the city’s emergent response measures to mitigate the impact of the labor dispute.
The community awaits further developments as negotiations remain stalled and both sides issue statements reflecting the power struggle between the union and the service provider.
image source from：watertownmanews
