A nationwide solidarity strike that spread to Bay Area garbage collection workers entered its second week on Monday, as odorous bags piled up in residential areas across the region amid a contract standoff.
Thousands of residents whose trash is picked up by Republic Services have been experiencing service interruptions due to a nationwide strike against the garbage giant that was announced last week by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union, which represents nearly 8,000 Republic waste workers across the U.S.
Some parts of the Bay Area were informed that trash collection — but not recycling or green waste — would gradually resume by Monday, but for many it had not. In West Contra Costa County, Republic Services said some customers might have trash collected — as drivers were brought in from out of state — but the company couldn’t provide certainty of whether and when that would happen.
“We empathize with the community’s frustration and ask for their continued patience during this Teamsters-led work stoppage,” Republic said in a statement Tuesday. “We want nothing more than to welcome our employees back to work.”…