Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton joined sanitation workers on the picket line in Peabody on Tuesday morning, as the strike entered its eighth day.
“You are standing up for working people all across America,” Moulton told the workers.
Hundreds of Republic Services workers, represented by Teamsters 25, are on strike across the state. The work stoppage has been affecting trash pickup in over a dozen communities.
Republic Services deployed replacement crews from out of state on Monday to resume trash pickup in many of the affected cities and towns.
Last week, community leaders sent a letter to Republic Services, asking for better communication and pushing the waste collection company to find a resolution to end the strike.
Those who co-signed the letter include leaders from Canton, Malden, Peabody, Gloucester, Watertown, Beverly, Danvers, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Swampscott, and Wakefield.
Community leaders said they “fully respect the collective bargaining process,” but are urging both sides to return to the negotiating table, according to the letter.
Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
Teamsters 25 said Republic Services has refused to give workers a fair deal, and that workers are demanding higher wages, better benefits and stronger labor protections.
Moulton agreed, saying the workers’ demands are “not that complicated,” but the company refuses to budge.
“Republic is repeatedly failing to put a fair deal on the table. If you just look at what Republic is paying compared to other trash collection companies in the area, they’re underpaid,” Moulton said.
Republic Services said it provides workers with competitive wages, an “industry-leading” healthcare plan, a pension plan and a “generous” time-off and holiday plan.
Along with Moulton, other local organizations have come out in support of the strike, including the Massachusetts Nurses Association and the Peabody Firefighters Union.
“People in our community, whether it’s working families in Lynn or the rich people in Manchester[-by-the-Sea] — whatever it is, they depend on you. We all depend upon you,” Moulton said.
WBZ’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.