Stinky strike ends Republic Services garbage crews back on job after lengthy disruption

Garbage workers in the Bay Area will return to work Saturday after Republic Services and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters reached a tentative agreement to end a strike that began on July 8. The strike resulted in significant disruptions to waste collection across multiple municipalities, including San Jose, Daly City, and Fremont, with garbage accumulating and raising public health concerns. San Mateo County Supervisor David J. Canepa warned the company of potential emergency measures if the situation did not improve, citing the strike's impact on sanitation and quality of life. Republic Services stated it would prioritize catching up on recycling and waste collection services promptly.

The details of the agreement have not been released, but the company expressed commitment to its employees' rights to collective bargaining. The Teamsters union represents approximately 8,000 of Republic Services' 42,000 employees nationwide, indicating the scale of the dispute. Limited trash collection had previously resumed in some areas, but the strike's end is expected to restore full services. This strike occurred amid ongoing national negotiations between the Teamsters and Republic Services, the second-largest waste management company in the U. S.