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SAN DIEGO – Negotiations are underway between the Republic Service and more than 250 union members to end a strike that has piled up trash and caused headaches for locals.
Workers quit their jobs this month, citing contract demands for better working conditions, prompting the Republic to address long working hours and unspecified workplace harassment. A representative for Teamsters Union Local 542 told FOX 5 it was waiting for a counter-offer from the Republic.
In a statement Thursday, Republic said it was proceeding with garbage collection for its customers and was “committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair agreement.”
But even into the second week of the strike, people are still hand-carrying bags of garbage to landfills or hiring junk haulers to deal with overflowing bins. The Homeowners Association of Sail Bay Shores in Pacific Beach paid hundreds of dollars for carriers to remove the trash.
“[The junk haulers]didn’t know it was that bad when they made their first bid. It was probably $150,” said Suzanne McQuade, director of the Homeowners Association. rice field. 1 hour to remove everything.
Workers continue to picket to remedy the situation, but residents are seen taking their garbage to landfills, sometimes forming long lines.
Junk haulers like JunkMD+ are inundated with calls as people try to deal with the trash overflow.
JunkMD+ co-owner Clemencia Sandoval said: Long lines, long wait times and rain also added another layer of interest to everything. ”
They’re used to removing sofas and mattresses, but they’re well suited to handle trash removal on-site around San Diego County.
“We have complexes that need one, two, three, four trucks to completely wipe out, and we keep our normal pricing,” Sandoval said. We have 250 townhomes in our apartment complex in Cripps Ranch, each with its own tote, and we’re trying to figure out how many trucks it takes to move our trash.”
It is unclear if a deal will be reached on Thursday or if negotiations will come to a screeching halt that day.
In a tweet late Thursday, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria urged residents who have not received their garbage collection to contact the Republic by calling 619-421-9400 or emailing CustomerServiceSD@RepublicServices.com.
Gloria said he has been in contact with the company and workers to “promote a compromise so that services can resume.”
“The city is reviewing a franchise agreement with Republic Services to determine enforcement options to address non-compliance with the terms,” the mayor said.
