The growing nationwide strike by Republic Services workers, with impacts felt in the Tri-City area as bins sat out by the curb uncollected, reached a resolution the weekend of July 19.
Over two weeks in mid-July, the Teamsters union launched picket lines in Georgia, Washington, California, Ohio, Illinois and Massachusetts, disrupting trash collection for millions of residences. In the Bay Area, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that trash is accumulating in cities like Richmond, Daly City, Fremont, Union City, San Jose, Half Moon Bay, Plymouth, Hercules, Pinole, Rodeo, Crockett, El Sobrante, Newark and Fairfield.
Republic Services, one of the largest waste management companies in the country, serves communities across the Bay Area, including parts of Fremont. As the Republic Services work stoppage stretched into its second week, Fremont officials are urging the company to restore full waste collection service and bring local drivers back to work. City officials added the service delays are creating growing public health concerns.
“This remains a top priority,” the city said in a July 15 update.
Republic Services plans to dispatch substitute drivers to focus on servicing residential garbage routes scheduled for Thursdays and Fridays.
On July 18, Fremont and Newark posted to the city websites that the work stoppage was over. Collection resumed July 19, starting with missed pickups from previous days. On July 19, Fremont posted an update that “the labor dispute and related work stoppage between Republic Services and the Teamsters has concluded.” They thanked the community for their patience.
Similarly, Union City posted on July 19 that a Teamsters union and Republic Services had reached a tentative agreement, and that regular collection services would resume the same day, although it might take several days for full service to resume.
Free trash, recycling, and yard waste dropoff at the Fremont Recycling and Transfer Station at 41149 Boyce Road continued through Tuesday, July 22.
There is still no word from Republic Services on whether customers will receive billing adjustments or refunds.
Residents can find updates and drop-off info at fremont-recycling.com.
