Trash collection in parts of Orange County are facing delays as local sanitation workers honor picket lines in support of strikes on the East Coast.
The work stoppage stems from a strike at a Republic Services facility in Boston, where more than 400 workers walked off the job last week demanding higher wages and better health benefits. That strike has now reached California, including Orange County.
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“There is no strike in Orange County, but these workers have contract language that allows them to honor that picket line,” said Adan Alvarez, spokesperson for Teamsters Local 396, which represents around 3,000 Republic Services workers in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Republic Services, the second-largest residential waste hauler in North America after Waste Management, operates in multiple Orange County cities including Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Placentia, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Villa Park and Yorba Linda.
Alvarez said “hundreds” of sanitation workers in Orange County are currently honoring the picket line.
In three of those cities — Villa Park, Brea and Santa Ana — local officials sent out notices to their residents on Wednesday, July 9, that Wednesday pickups could be delayed by a day or more.
Villa Park officials said residents should leave bins out for “potential” makeup service on Thursday, “similar to a holiday week.” Local crews were not on strike, they added, but were picketing in support of their East Coast colleagues.
Brea city officials said some customers may also see delayed trash and recycling collection this week. “If your trash was not picked up, leave your bins out for potential makeup service on Thursday,” city officials said in a notice.
“If you are in an association community, check with your management for any guidance,” they added. “Republic is working on contingency plans in Brea.”
In Santa Ana, officials confirmed that Republic Services had delayed the pickup scheduled for July 9 and would be working through the weekend to catch up. They advised residents to leave trash carts out at the curb “until they have been serviced.”
“Republic Services will implement an accelerated recovery schedule that includes working through the weekend to catch up on any missed collections as quickly as possible,” the city said in a statement.
Alvarez said it’s unclear when services will return to normal.
“The majority are honoring the picket line. When services will go back to normal is unforeseen. Republic Services can end this today if they bargain in good faith,” he added.
Republic Services officials said three Orange County facilities were affected by employees participating in the work stoppage related to the contract negotiations with the union representing employees in the Boston area and four other locations.
“We are making adjustments to our operations and working to resume regular service as quickly as possible,” company officials said in a statement. “Residents are advised to leave their containers out. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
The strike has also impacted cities in the Bay Area, where union workers are also refusing to cross the picket line in solidarity.
