Businesses and residents in Huntington Beach and Anaheim could face a trash collection delay as over 400 sanitation staffers in the region stop working during collective bargaining with Republic Services, their employer.
Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster stated that some residents and businesses around State Route 57 and residents between State Route 55 and Imperial Highway had a waste pickup service disruption. Officials are getting ready for a service delay, which would impact Anaheim Hills community residents.
Lyster stated that officials advise residents to put their trash bins outside on the waste collection day scheduled for them, and if those are not emptied, keep them out. They can take their trash containers inside 48 hours later for the week.
For some time, Huntington Beach has been not only talking to Republic Services but also monitoring the level of interruptions in the service. If necessary, Huntington Beach will put plans for other waste disposable options into practice as well as announce the plans to businesses and residents.
Huntington Beach also requires residents to bring their trash containers out as usual and leave those in place if trash is not collected. It also requires residents to bag any uncollected or excess trash for pickup on the coming scheduled day.
The employees cum Teamsters Local 396 members voted on November 23, 2021, to strike. Those employees have accused Republic Services of practices that breach the National Labor Relations Act when they bargained for a fresh contract. The collective bargaining contract between the parties expired on the last day of September this year.
Union spokesperson Adnan Alvarez stated that the accusations against the waste collection service provider include the following.
- Republic services intimidated its workers for taking part in the union.
- It gave some employees bonuses instead of negotiating with them about their concerns.
Republic Services stated that it not only respects employee rights to indulge in collective bargaining but also keeps negotiating sincerely and honestly for competitive and fair labor contracts.
