Local garbage strike heads into second week, mediation talks resume Tuesday

Republic Services workers continued their strike into a second week, halting trash and recycling collection in South Snohomish County. Mediation talks are scheduled for July 15, following the strike that began on July 11, which involves over 2,000 Teamsters union members nationwide. The union is advocating for fair compensation, condemning what they call corporate greed. Republic Services had promised double pickups this week, but that commitment remains unfulfilled as of Monday. Residents have expressed concerns regarding potential charges for missed pickups; however, the company has indicated that billing inquiries will be addressed later.

The Teamsters union claims to represent nearly 8,000 Republic waste collection workers across the U. S. Sean M. O’Brien, the union's president, asserted that workers are united in their pursuit of the wages and benefits they deserve. The outcome of the mediation talks could significantly impact both workers and local residents.