Hundreds of sanitation workers went on strike early Tuesday in the Boston area, their union announced, an action that was set to affect waste collection in 20 communities.
Teamsters Local 25 said 450 workers who are represented by the union started a strike just after midnight, which will affected hundreds of thousands of people in the area amid ongoing contract negotiations with their employer, Republic Services.
The union said its members are demanding better wages, benefits and labor protections in their contract, but the national company won’t budge. NBC10 Boston has reached out to Republic Services for comment.
Workers were expected to rally in Peabody early Tuesday. The union noted that other local union groups representing Republic workers across the country could call similar strikes as well.
“If your rubbish is piling up on the Fourth of July, remember who’s responsible for it: the white-collar criminals who run Republic Services,” said Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien in a statement. “Republic Teamsters didn’t start this fight, but we will finish it. Our members will do whatever it takes to finally get the respect they’re owed.”
The town of North Reading urged its residents not to put out trash or recycling on Tuesday, due to the Republic Services strike. The town said it’s been told of contingency staffing plans in the event of a strike, and would share more information Tuesday.