Teamsters wins grievance settlement from Republic Services

Teamsters Local 952, based in Orange, California, has won a grievance settlement it estimates will amount to nearly $300,000 from Phoenix-based Republic Services Inc.

In a post on the International Brotherhood of Teamsters website, the labor union says the ruling against Republic pertained to “violating a collective bargaining agreement established between the local and the company by illegally subcontracting over 50 percent of municipal solid waste [MSW] disposal” in the Southern California region.

According to the union, 21 members of Local 952 work as semitruck drivers for Republic, transporting MSW from transfer stations to landfills. “A court-appointed arbitrator has awarded these members $197,397.45 for lost wages in 2023,” Teamsters reports.

The same statement claims over the course of the next nine months, Republic will owe Local 952 members an additional $96,000, bringing the total settlement amount to more than $293,000.

Teamsters says Republic Services has nine months to comply with the collective bargaining agreement or Local 952 can take the firm to court to seek additional compensation.

“The company felt they could violate our collective bargaining agreement with zero consequences,” says Eric Jimenez, secretary-treasurer of Local 952.

Chuck Stiles, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste and Recycling Division, singles out Republic as a company that has garnered an unfavorable reputation with the union.

“Time and time again, Republic Services has shown a complete indifference to the rule of law,” he says. “This settlement puts Republic on notice. This company will never get away with violating collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the Teamsters without fierce resistance.”

Republic Services has not released any statements relative to the situation as of Feb. 7.