Sanitation workers at four Republic Services facilities in San Diego continue to strike as negotiations fail to bear fruit and communities continue to become affected.
More than 250 unionized sanitation workers with Teamsters Local 542 went on strike on Dec.17 for better benefits and improved safety conditions. Local residents continue to self-haul trash in the affected areas of Chula Vista and San Diego.
According to a statement released by Chula Vista City Manager Maria Kachadoorian, city leadership has been in constant communication with Republic Services since the crisis began. Chula Vista residents may engage and hear directly from the company on proposed mitigation measures during an upcoming city council meeting on Jan.11 at 5 p.m. According to Kachadoorian, updates on the impacts of waste collection interruptions will be provided to the community at the meeting.
There were several negotiation sessions between the unionized workers and the company. On Thursday, sanitation workers returned to the picket lines after rejecting the company's latest offer.
“Republic has known for years that the contract expired on November 30, 2021, and had six weeks since the expiration date to address our members’ concerns,” said Jaime Vasquez, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 542 in San Diego in a statement.
Vasquez continued, “Our members have been working non-stop throughout the pandemic to keep San Diego communities clean and safe, and they have been pushed to the brink by excessive working hours and harassment by company management. We tried to bring these issues to Republic executives at the bargaining table, but they had no interest in bargaining in good faith. Our members felt they had no choice but to go on strike to try to get the company to listen to their concerns.”
Republic Services released a statement on Thursday that it was “very disappointed” workers rejected the proposal described as “ a highly competitive wage and total compensation package” featuring the support and encouragement of city leaders and partners.
“We know customers are frustrated, and we apologize for the inconvenience. This strike affects our members’ families and neighborhoods, too,” said Vasquez. “Our members are public service workers who want desperately to be able to get back into their trucks and clean up their communities. All we ask is that Republic Services recognizes the value and needs of its essential workers who have kept this community safe, clean, and protected for nearly two years of this pandemic
Republic services resorted to using “Blue Crews” under their Emergency Operations Plan. According to the company, the Blue Crews “make progress servicing our customers”.
The unionized workers have gained the attention and support of San Diego County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Nora Vargas and now-former California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 7,000 Republic workers nationwide. The union is under negotiations for members working for Republic Services whose contracts expired in 2021 in seven locations: San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton, and Richmond, Calif.; Seattle; and New Orleans.
