A letter was sent by Chula Vista City manager Maria Kachedoorian on Wednesday that demands Republic Services to meet and discuss plans to administer credit to thousands of customers that were impacted during the month-long strike.
The letter comes after a month-long strike beginning in December where over 250 Republic Services Sanitation workers represented by Teamsters Local 542 called for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Employees asked for a $2 pay increase in the first year and $1 in the remaining years.
Both parties settled last week for nearly a $5 an hour increase over five years and a one-time bonus of $1,000. The employees earned $24.60 an hour before this settlement.
Republic Services announced last week that it would handle credits to impacted customers on a case-by-case basis.
According to Kachadoorian, this strategy is “just creating another mess,” further suggesting that the company provide a “global credit,” depending on received services such as residential or industrial.
“We are getting complaints from constituents who are being put on hold and who are basically on call for quite a bit a long time for a $5 credit. Others are getting a $10 credit. It’s inequitable,” Kachadoorian said.
She noted that Republic Services is late paying out its franchise fee on time, demanding penalties and reimbursement for city-wide cleanup measures. Kachadoorian said the cost is about $150,000, but it is being calculated and outlined for the waste hauler.
“The behavior of the Republic continues to be disrespectful to the city, to our constituents, and the people they are supposed to serve,” Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said.
According to Kachadoorian, residents are instructed to call Republic Services on their customer line at 619-421-9400 to begin the process for the credits. The city has stopped supplemental efforts, and Republic Services crews have resumed trash collection services.
