Trash Strike OVER! Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 reach agreement on new, 5-year contract

Republic representatives tell Malden officials, other communities that regular service will resume starting Monday, September 22

By Steve Freker

One of the toughest 79-day stretches in city of Malden history will end on Monday, September 22 due to the announcement that waste management giant Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25 have reached agreement on a new. 5-year contract.

Malden and 17 other cities and towns — mainly on the North Shore — have watched trash pile up at times and related health issues mount up since about 400 Republic Services workers walked off the job.

Republic officials said, “We look forward to our employees returning to work on Monday and quickly resuming normal operations.”

Since late July there has been some trash pickup and also pickup of recyclable items, but it has been far from steady, reliable or dependable.

About 400 Republic Services waste collection workers walked off the job July 1, affecting residents and commercial businesses in greater Boston and North Shore cities and towns. The walkout caused disruptions to trash and recycling collections even as Republic brought in workers from other parts of the country to service local routes.
“During the strike we never lost hope that we would reach an agreement that would benefit our members,” Tom Mari, President of the Local 25 union, said in a statement. “We are now ready to return to work and provide the best service possible to Republic’s customers.”