The City of Watertown will be seeking compensation for the service interruption. While trash and recycling collection has restarted, City officials said that the backup crews are taking longer than normal, and recycling will not be prioritized while the company continues contract negotiations. Also, the Recycling Center will remain closed, causing the cancellation of a planned event.
On July 1, members of Teamsters Local 25 went on strike demanding changes to the contract with Republic Services. Trash and recycling was not picked up in Watertown from Tuesday July 1 to July 3, and July 4th was a planned holiday. Replacement crews began collections on Monday, July 7.
Deputy City Manager Emily Monae provided an update at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, saying that the services during the strike did not materialize as first announced by Republic Services, the trash and recycling contractor. City Manager George Proakis was on vacation.
“When this when indications of a strike first started in June, Republic assured us that if there was a strike, they had backup workers ready to go to continue the regular provision of service,” Monae said. “Unfortunately, it turned out that they only had enough backup staff to continue offering services to small towns, like Lynnfield and Marblehead, and it ended up taking several days to mobilize to get Watertown to a more normal set of operations.”
On Tuesday, Republic had the normal number of vehicles — three trash and two recycling trucks — to do the collection. Monae said that pickup has taken longer than normal.
“We know that because the drivers are new to Watertown, because they’re facing significant delays at transfer stations and other points in the process, the routes have been taking longer, and in some cases, pickups are being missed,” she said. “We’re in communication with Republic about missed pickups. So please let us know if you believe you’ve had a missed pickup by calling 311, we’ve also drop-off center at 148 Waltham St. for overflow trash.”
Republic workers run the Recycling Center in Watertown, and that facility will be closed until further notice, Monae said. One of the results is that the Swap Shop planned for Saturday will be cancelled.
City officials will seek compensation from Republic for the lost service, Monae said.
“The City Manager has exercised the liquidated damages clause of our contract with Republic and intends to seek recovery of costs to the city because of this ongoing disruption,” Monae said. “We understand how frustrating the situation is for residents, and we appreciate their flexibility and patience.”
She added that while the contract involves a private company, the City still has an interest in the trash collection
“It’s important to note that the City plays no role in negotiating labor contracts for private companies, but we do have an obligation to protect public health, and that is at the center of all our discussions on this topic,” she said.
Councilor John Gannon asked for an update the negotiations. City officials did not have an update.
Teamsters Local 25 sent out a press release about the negotiations on Wednesday. President Thomas G. Mari said that negotiations have not continued.
“Teamsters Local 25 has not been contacted by Republic since last Thursday’s meeting. We have spoken with the federal mediator, and he has not been contacted by Republic either” Mari said.
“That’s why Teamsters Local 25 is urging local residents affected by the strike to demand that Republic Waste Services resume negotiations with the union and pay the employees at the same wage rate and provide the same health insurance benefit as other employees who perform the same work.”
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 25: REPUBLIC SERVICES CONTINUES TO LIE ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS
PICKET LINES EXTENDED TO WEST COAST CITIES
BOSTON, July 9, 2025– Teamsters Local 25 President Thomas G. Mari said Republic wants impacted towns to believe it is negotiating daily with striking collection pic.twitter.com/hQkiCmCVjy — Teamsters Local 25 (@Teamsters25) July 9, 2025
Multiple City Councilors said that they have had residents contact them about the replacement workers doing the collections during the strike.
Councilor Caroline Bays requested information about who is doing the pickups.
“I’ve gotten a bunch of questions about the strike and whether or not the people who are now picking up our trash have crossed a picket line, and when I looked in on (the Trash Strike) page, I couldn’t find any information about who was actually picking up I know we have people who are who are members of unions,” Bay said. “I was wondering if we were planning on putting anything in here with information about who was actually picking up our trash so people can act according to their values and their morals?”
Councilor Tony Palomba asked whether the City can make a statement about the negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters Local 25.
“I’m asking whether it’s possible for the City to clearly state its support for a negotiated contract with Republic that is respectful of the demands of the Teamsters local 25 for an increase in wages and a quality health plan?” he said. “Is that possible for our City administration to make such a statement?”
Monae said the City is posting updates on trash and recycling during the strike at https://watertown-ma.gov/1533/Republic-Strike-Updates
Republic Services is in violation of its contract with the City of Watertown. This is all that should matter to Watertown. When you outsource to a vendor, the expectation is that the vendor will take care of all facets of its business relationship with the client, period. Republic is not doing that and my hope is that the city find a way to terminate services with Republic once it secures a new vendor who fully understands what an outsource partnership is all about. Republic failed as an outsource vendor in that it made its internal business OUR business.