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Council unanimously backs Teamsters Local 25 in dispute with Republic Services
Summary
The council passed a resolution urging Republic Services to bargain in good faith with Teamsters Local 25 after a strike over wages, benefits and working conditions disrupted waste collection and raised public‑health concerns.
The Boston City Council on July 9 adopted a resolution supporting Teamsters Local 25 members who went on strike against Republic Services over pay, health insurance and working conditions.
Councilor Michael Fitzgerald and Councilor Murphy were lead sponsors. Fitzgerald described Republic as a Fortune 500 waste‑management company with large profits and accused the company of failing to negotiate fair pay and benefits for more than 400 local employees. Murphy tied service interruptions to public‑health concerns and said the strike underscores the essential nature of the workers’ labor.
Multiple councilors said they had visited picket lines and urged Republic Services to return to the bargaining table. Some councilors proposed possible city leverage, such as reviewing municipal contracts, while others emphasized labor solidarity and urged good‑faith bargaining. The council adopted the resolution after sponsors moved to suspend the rules and adopt at the meeting.
Why this matters: the strike affected trash collection in parts of the city and raised sanitation and public‑health worries. The resolution aligns the council with union demands for bargaining in good faith and fair wages.
What’s next: the resolution asks Republic to negotiate and calls on the company to resume reliable services; the council will monitor the situation and may pursue further steps depending on local impacts and developments in bargaining.
