Republic Services trash strike heads to court after 6 Massachusetts communities sue, "we can't wait anymore"
Six cities and towns in Massachusetts struggling with the Republic Services trash collectors strike went to court on Tuesday.
The communities - Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody and Malden - are suing to force the company to pick up growing piles of garbage and recycling.
Union workers walked off the job July 1 demanding better pay and benefits from Republic Services. The strike has now lasted three weeks.
The six communities filed a joint complaint last Thursday, asking a judge to intervene in the strike.
"All we are here for the sum total of why we're here, is to get Republic to do what they are contracted to do, which is pick up the trash, pick up the recycling on time according to the schedules that they agreed to and we can't wait anymore," Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill said outside of court.
Cahill said Republic Services told them earlier this summer that if there was a strike, the towns wouldn't have to worry.
"They promised that they were a big national company, and they would have resources in our communities to pick up our trash and recycling," Cahill told WBZ-TV last week. The mayor added that health department inspectors found about 25 Republic dumpsters overflowing in Beverly last week.
A judge took the lawsuit under advisement, saying that an order will be issued at some point in the near future.
"It is disappointing that these six communities have taken this route as we continue to work with our municipal partners to address their needs," Republic Services said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed.
"It's been a disaster"
Ralis Gabriel lives in Peabody and says that amid the strike, trash pick-ups have been inconsistent, creating problems for the neighborhood.
"It's been a disaster," Gabriel said. "It's blowing everywhere. It's building up in my yard, it's building up in my house also."
Neighbors are fed up, they say it's caused rodent problems, pest problems and the smell is something you can't escape.
"It smells bad through, all the way from Salem to Peabody," Gabriel said.
The company and Teamsters Local 25 have been meeting with a federal mediator but have not been able to agree on a new contract.
Republic has contracts for trash pickup in 14 cities and towns across Massachusetts and with businesses in other communities, including Newton and Boston.