Chula Vista, California – Overflowing garbage bins and missed pickups are once again testing the patience of Chula Vista residents as local Republic Services workers join a growing national strike led by the Teamsters Union. The San Diego County disruptions are the latest ripple in a labor action that began in Boston and now stretches across multiple states, impacting thousands of sanitation customers.
Republic Services, the sole waste collection provider for Chula Vista, acknowledged that the “temporary work stoppage” has reached Southern California. In a brief statement, the company said it is “making adjustments” and asked residents to keep bins at the curb until service resumes. “We apologize for any inconvenience,” the statement read.
But what may look like a local service delay is part of a much broader, coordinated push by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. According to the union, more than 2,000 workers nationwide are either striking or refusing to cross picket lines. The action stems from years of contract disputes, stalled negotiations, and what union leadership calls systemic disrespect for labor…