Ohio Strikers at Republic Return to Work

All workers at Republic Services Inc.’s Youngstown, Ohio, landfill and waste hauling operations returned to work following a Teamsters strike.

(This story is updated with a comment from the Teamsters.)

Phoenix-based Republic said in a statement that it expected Youngstown workers to return to work April 22. Also, the company anticipated Ohio workers in Cleveland and Elyria who extended the picket line to support the Youngstown workers to return to work the same day.

“We appreciate the patience our customers demonstrated during the past week,” said Doug Dunn, general manager, Republic Services/Allied Waste in Youngstown. “Crews will work throughout the week to service all of our customers' waste and recycling needs."

Regarding the sympathy walkouts in Cleveland and Elyria, “We are continuing to work diligently to service all outstanding customers and are currently developing an operational schedule that will return all customers to regular collection,” said Alan Marino, general manager, Republic Services Cleveland, and Eric Van Houten, general manager, Republic Services Elyria.

At Republic’s Carbon Limestone landfill outside of Youngstown 23 members of Local 377 of the Washington-based Teamsters struck the company March 27, charging the company with illegally changing working conditions. Republic has said it wants to switch its workers there to a financially stronger retirement plan and out of the troubled Central States Pension Fund.

“We care about the communities we live and work in. We don’t like seeing the trash piling up and our neighbors being upset at the filth, “ said John Overly, a worker at Republic’s landfill, in a Teamsters statement. “That’s why we’re going back to work – for now – because we really want to clean up our neighborhoods.”

Republic workers remain on strike in McDonough, Ga., and Memphis and Millington, Tenn.