An additional spherical of negotiations held final week didn’t deliver the 2 sides of an ongoing trash strike in Larger Boston any nearer to a consensus, as a rep for the waste administration firm says they aren’t certain what else they may supply to get placing Teamsters again to work.
Talking with the Herald on Wednesday, Jake Anderson, Republic Providers’ Space President, stated that his firm stays keen to speak with representatives for the 400 placing Teamsters Native 25 members, however that the opposite aspect must get severe about negotiating.
“We remain willing to negotiate and will return to the table just as soon as the union is willing to negotiate,” Anderson stated.
The union’s Republic staff first walked off the job on July 1 — greater than two months in the past now — after their earlier contract with the waste administration big ended with out a alternative in place.
In response to Republic, their greater than a dozen conferences with Teamsters representatives have gone nowhere, although they’ve supplied to up driver pay by 16% instantly and 43% over the following 5 years. That would depart most Republic trash truck drivers in Massachusetts making upwards of $140,000 yearly, in accordance with the corporate.
The actual sticking level appears to be who will cowl the staff’ healthcare. The union desires its members transitioned to the Teamsters’ plan, whereas the corporate maintains their plan is a extra complete profit bundle that comes with no premium prices for care.
Anderson couldn’t say if the insurance coverage matter had assist up different Teamsters contracts, however did point out that his firm had efficiently negotiated contracts with dozens of different Teamsters native unions.
Solely the Native 25, he stated, has confirmed to be totally different.
At their most up-to-date assembly, he stated, the union “continued to increase their ask” of the corporate however isn’t negotiating “constructively.”
On Wednesday, the union voted overwhelmingly — 84% — to reject the corporate’s newest supply and stay on strike. Native 25 President Tom Mari stated that his members will stay off the job till they see a proposal on par with different trash firms.
“This group is one of the strongest groups I’ve ever worked with in my more than three decades as a Teamster. Today’s vote was another reminder that these workers are in this fight for industry standard wages and benefits,” he stated.
“The ironic thing is that we are not asking for anything more than the other trash haulers represented by our union,” he added. “Today’s vote should be a strong message to Republic to come back to the table and negotiate a fair and equitable contract. We are ready to meet and make the deal, so we can go back to work.”
