Teamster drivers who work for Republic Services (my company) in Boston, showed up at our gate (Bellevue) at 3am yesterday (Thursday) morning to form a picket line.
Well, that picket line was still there today (Friday). As fellow teamsters, it is our duty to honor that line and not cross it. This is day two of no garbage pick up service to several cities that Republic has contracts with. Although only three are mentioned in the article, there are five more cites being affected by this strike with all trucks coming from the Bellevue, Kent, and Lynnwood yards to serve those communities. Not only that, but there is a picket line at the Bill Gates facility compound which is also in Bellevue. The reason for that is because Bill Gates is a major stockholder in the Republic services company.
What's this mean for us who are left on the outside looking in? No work and no pay until this thing is resolved. Current info available states that Republic has still not gone back to the bargaining tables in Boston. Scab drivers there are picking up the trash while the Boston teamsters drivers man the lines. So, as the garbage begins to pile up here in our cities, we will be unable to go back to work until something breaks.
Strike forces Republic Services to cancel trash pickup for second day | king5.com