WATERTOWN, Mass. — Striking sanitation workers represented by Teamsters and their employer, Republic Services, are slated to meet with a federal mediator on Friday amid failed contract talks.
Friday marks Day 11 of the strike in 14 Massachusetts communities, including in Watertown, where city officials have opened an emergency trash and recycling site on Waltham Street for residents to dump their overflowing garbage cans.
The Massachusetts towns affected by the strike are:
- Peabody
- Manchester-by-the-Sea
- Gloucester
- Wakefield
- Marblehead
- Malden
- Beverly
- Danvers
- North Reading
- Lynnfield
- Swampscott
- Arlington
- Watertown
- Canton
Both Teamsters and Republic Services confirmed to Boston 25 that the sides have agreed to return to the bargaining table to negotiate contracts for the hundreds of workers who remain on the picket line.
Before this development, Teamsters told Boston 25 that they hadn’t been contacted by Republic Services for about a week, despite claims from both sides that they wanted to resolve the issue.
Canton town administrator Charles E. Doody is also speaking out, stating that Republic Services said it would start curbside collection on Monday, detailing the process as slow and adding that public health concerns are escalating, as restaurants struggle without a waste solution during this busy season.
Attorneys for the towns of Lynnfield and North Reading sent a notice to Republic Services saying they are in danger of losing their contract due to non-performance and the ongoing strike by Teamsters Local 25 members.
Teamsters have alleged that their decision to strike on July 1 was caused by Republic Services’ refusal to agree to pay them the same wages and benefits as other competitor trash companies.
Republic Services has denied those claims.
There was no immediate word on when Friday negotiations will take place, but Boston 25 will pass along updates as they become available.
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