Judge denies towns' request for injunction against Republic Services amid strike

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/07/29/business/injunction-republic-services-teamsters-strike/

By Stella Tannenbaum Globe Correspondent,Updated July 29, 2025, 3:48 p.m.



A Massachusetts judge declined to order waste management company Republic Services to immediately collect all trash and recycling and fulfill its contractual obligations as the strike against the company stretches into its fifth week.

Six communities affected by the strike — Beverly, Malden, Gloucester, Peabody, Danvers, and Canton — sought the order in Essex Superior Court, arguing that disruptions caused by the strike were affecting residents and public health. Republic responded it had brought in workers from other locations and made an effort to continue regular service despite striking workers blocking its trucks and harassing employees.

Judge Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman sided with Republic, ruling on Monday that the order requested by the communities would be too vague and unclear. “It would likely be impossible for Republic to comply,” she wrote in her decision.

About 400 workers represented by Teamsters Local 25 went on strike against Republic on July 1, affecting 14 communities that contract with the firm for residential trash service and several others, including Boston, where trash has piled up at restaurants and other commercial customers of Republic.

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