As contract discussions stagnate, the waste management business that has been hired to handle trash collection services in a number of Massachusetts cities and towns is accusing striking local union workers of using blatant violence.
Republic Services claims that the Teamsters Local 25 have committed crimes such as sabotaging trucks, harassing drivers while they are out serving clients, threatening staff, and cutting tires on occupied cars.
According to Republic Services Vice President Kurt Lavery, the company’s employees’ safety is a non-negotiable issue.
As we serve consumers, the acts of our teamsters are endangering our drivers. Lavery stated in a statement that “we are dedicated to sincere negotiations and we will not tolerate actions that put our employees or our communities in danger.”
In front of a federal mediator, union representatives and business negotiators are meeting, but it appears they have not been able to reach an agreement since over 450 employees left work on Tuesday.
The corporation claims that they could have settled the contract dispute because the union rejected the plan without presenting a counter offer by presenting terms that addressed the union’s stated interests.
According to a Local 25 spokesperson who talked to the Herald, the corporation has been lying about this strike ever since it began.
The most recent instance of such is the company’s claim that the strike could have been avoided with its most recent offer. The representative claimed that the plan was totally irrational and a smack in the face to our members.
According to the union, the outside drivers are scabs.
According to Local 25, the corporation would provide the striking Teamsters with better benefits and a livable income if they were sincere about putting an end to the walkout that started when the union’s last contract expired.
The union claimed in a statement on Thursday that Republic Services will not comply with their demands that they match the contract terms negotiated with the company’s competitors, despite the fact that other trash management companies pay more and provide better benefits.
Since the start of this strike, we have not demanded anything that is incompatible with what so many other workers in this sector are already receiving. They claimed that true leadership would put the needs of Massachusetts citizens and labor peace ahead of corporate profit.
The union is steadfast on the picket lines, according to a statement from Local 25 President Thomas Mari.
Fairness, equity, and upholding the local standards set by Local 25 are the key concerns of this strike. He claimed to have never seen a group of employees so unified and dedicated to ensuring they receive the same compensation and benefits as others performing the exact same job at another company.
The union did not respond to the claims of criminal activity and violence, but this is not the first time they have been the target of such glaring charges.
Due to allegations that they had gone rogue the year before and were using traditional thug tactics to dismantle a television production firm for do-nothing jobs, a number of union members were indicted and later found not guilty in 2015.
Mark Harrington, the union’s former business representative, entered a guilty plea to a charge of attempted extortion and was sentenced to six months of home detention, while the most of the accused were found not guilty.
