2,000 Republic Services Workers Strike, Trash Piles Up California, East Coast

A nationwide strike by Teamsters union members against Republic Services, the second-largest trash collection company in North America, has caused widespread trash collection delays across California, including Orange County, the Bay Area, and San Diego. The strike began on July 1 in the Boston area and has since spread, with thousands of workers refusing to cross picket lines in solidarity, demanding better wages, health benefits, and pensions. Cities like Garden Grove, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, and Chula Vista have set up temporary trash drop-off sites to help residents manage accumulating waste amid public health concerns. Republic Services has apologized for the service disruptions and is making adjustments, but no firm timeline for restoring full service has been provided. Local officials, including Chula Vista's mayor, have called emergency meetings to address the sanitation crisis and its potential health impacts. Negotiations between the union and Republic Services are ongoing, with a federal mediator scheduled to facilitate talks mid-July.