Republic Services workers in Chula Vista returned to work Wednesday after several days of missing work out of solidarity with Boston strikers, disrupting collection for thousands of residents.
In an emailed statement, the waste hauler said its employees were resuming regular service “as quickly as possible.”
”We ask our residential customers to leave their containers out until they are serviced,” Republic Services added. “We empathize with the community’s frustration that this situation has caused.”
Since July 1, hundreds of Republic Services employees in Boston have been on strike, demanding a contract with better wages and benefits, as well as stronger labor protections. Since that time, picket lines have extended nationwide, including in Chula Vista and at some facilities in San Diego.
Chula Vista-based workers told city leaders on Tuesday during a special meeting that while they had walked off the job out of solidarity with East Coast strikers, they, too, felt underpaid.
The City Council had met to consider whether to declare a state of emergency due to the work stoppage and trash pile up. But officials, including City Manager Maria Kachadoorian, did not believe the impacts necessitated calling an emergency, which would have redirected city workers to pick up residents’ trash.
During the local work stoppage, Republic Services sent out drivers from out of state to collect trash, prioritizing hospitals and nursing homes.
The city said it was working with Republic Services, its only waste hauler, to resume service. Additional collection crews and extended hours will be used to catch up on missed pickups, the city added.
In a statement Wednesday, Mayor John McCann, who had called for the special meeting, thanked residents “for their patience and understanding during this unnecessary strike.”
“We recognize the inconvenience this stoppage caused, and I’m proud to announce that service has resumed today,” he added. “It is unfortunate that a strike in Boston affected service in Chula Vista. I am committed to keeping Chula Vista clean and safe for all residents.”