Republic Services garbage strike stretches into second week

(KRON) — Trash was piling up in cities around the Bay Area as a nationwide strike by workers at Republic Services waste disposal stretched into its second week. Workers with the union Teamsters Local 439 launched the strike in Stockton last Tuesday after Republic Services workers in Boston, Philadelphia and near Atlanta went on strike.

Locally, Republic Services service includes the cities of Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules and unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. The strike has also impacted trash collection in Daly City and Half Moon Bay.

With the strike ongoing, some residents are being forced to play a kind of “musical chairs” with their trash as they don’t have enough room in their overflowing garbage cans. Some are putting trash in their back or side yards. Others are double wrapping it and storing it in the garage.

Republic Services workers in Stockton have yet to make a deal with the company. Trash collectors in other Bay Area cities including Daly City are maintaining solidarity with the striking workers by not picking up trash.

Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said he’s been in contact with the county health department as they’re worried about the strike becoming a public health issue.

“When trash accumulates on the streets it attracts rodents and rodents attract diseases,” Gioia said. “It’s unhealthy, it’s unsanitary. We would get there if this continues for a longer period of time.”

A representative with Republic Services confirmed to KRON4 that the two sides will meet Monday with the hope of hashing out a deal. In the meantime, Republic Services said it has mobilized additional employees to assist with collection and placed many customers on a modified service schedule.

The company is still advising all residents to leave their containers out for collection. Residents can also take up to four bags of trash to Republic Services’ transfer station in North Richmond at no extra charge.

Bay City News contributed to this report.