City Council President Mark Sideris read a letter to the City Council Thursday night in which he calls on Republic Services to end of the trash strike, which began on July 1. The City Council voted to approve sending the letter.
Sideris’ letter follows two letter sent by City Manager George Proakis and other municipal leaders to Republic. The last one was sent on July 10.
See the City Council President’s letter below.
To Republic Waste Services:
The City Council of the City of Watertown, along with the City Administration, has been closely monitoring the current issues involving Republic Waste Services and the collection of trash from our City streets. The Council’s primary obligation is to the City’s residents and citizens and the protection of public health and safety. While the City Administration has worked hard to reduce impacts on Watertown residents as much as possible and assure that solid waste collection services remain available to residents even as the labor dispute drags on, the current situation needs to come to an end. It is past time for this situation to be resolved in the greater public interest.
The City Council does not have a role in private labor contract disputes; however, the Council is keenly aware of the impact such disputes have on residents when critical services are disrupted. The City is respectful of private business activities, but cannot ignore the need for all workers to be treated fairly and receive appropriate wages and benefits. Resolution of the current labor dispute would benefit business interests and workers alike, but most importantly would address existing public health concerns. The City Council therefore urges Republic to redouble its efforts to work with its labor force to resolve this matter in the most expeditious manner possible. It is necessary for both sides to come together and meet for as long and as many times as is necessary to resolve this dispute for the good of the public.
I request, on behalf of the Watertown City Council, that you please do your best to protect the residents of our City. I implore you to put down the gloves and come to the table with a mind to getting everyone back to work. This certainly won’t be easy, but it is time that public confidence be restored and public health be protected.
The City Council eagerly awaits a positive outcome.
Thank you.
Sincerely
Mark Sideris
City Council President