Mass. Reps. Pressley, Lynch and Moulton lead call for end to trash strike
All nine members of Massachusetts' U.S. House delegation have called on trash hauler Republic Services to reach a deal with striking Teamsters, ending a work stoppage that has caused garbage to pile up across Greater Boston this month.
The letter , led by Democratic U.S. Reps Ayanna Pressley and Stephen Lynch, whose 7th and 8th Congressional District seats span Boston, and Seth Moulton, D-6th District, of Salem, underlined the "sweat equity" of its employees, and the need for good wages and benefits.
"Every community deserves high-quality municipal services, including waste management, but not at the expense of a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits," the lawmakers wrote to Republic CEO Jon Vander Ark.
Union workers, represented by Teamsters Local 25, walked off the job on July 1. And so far, efforts to reach an agreement on a new contract have been unsuccessful.
Last week, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city would begin fining Republic directly, instead of impacted business, for uncollected trash. The Democratic mayor said the ongoing work stoppage is "taking an unacceptable toll on Boston's residents, businesses, and neighborhoods."
In their letter to Vander Ark, the Bay State lawmakers also urged a swift resolution to the strike, calling on officials to "return to the bargaining table in good faith and without delay, to negotiate a contract that reflects the dignity of this work, one that ensures fair pay, quality benefits, and a safe workplace."
A new contract, they continued, is an opportunity for the company to "acknowledge the vital role your company, through the sweat equity of your employees, plays in our communities, and to bring wages and benefits in line with industry standards."
The striking workers "stand ready to return to work and continue to be the face of your company in the communities that rely on them," they concluded.
Top elected leaders across the state, including Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, state Treasurer Deb Goldberg, and state Auditor Diana DiZoglio, also have called on Republic to reach an agreement and end the walkout.
"Our elected leaders in Massachusetts have stepped-up more than any other state I've ever seen, sticking with us and not backing away at any time during this fight for fairness and equity," Teamsters Local 25 President Tom Mari said in a statement.
In a statement earlier this month , Republic said it was committed to "reaching an agreement that provides our employees with market-leading pay and benefits."
The company accused the union's leadership of being "focused on disinformation and disruption."
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