August 4, 2025 • 38 mins
The Republic Services trash collectors strike continues into another week after Republic employees voted 93% in favor of continuing the strike. The ongoing dispute that affects 14 cities and towns in Massachusetts is over wages, health insurance and lack of amnesty among other things. Are you a resident of one of the communities being impacted by this strike? How is the ongoing strike adding to public health concerns in your community? Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga joined us to discuss how Gloucester is managing trash pileups.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, well, we have been following a little bit
this trash strike which has impacted six communities big time Beverly, Mouldon, Gloucester, PbD,
Danvers and Canton. There are fourteen other communities that have
been affected somewhat less. But the company that has been
(00:29):
on strike, Republic Trash Services. The union has been out
since July first, so that's thirty one days. Today is
August fourth, they finish their fifth full week on strike.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
If my short division is correct.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And with us tonight is the Mayor of Gloucester, Greg Virga.
Mayor Virga, Welcome to Nightside. Sorry to chat with you
under these circumstances, but first, how are you doing? And
how is how's Gloucester doing.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We're doing okay, you know, think could be better. I
think that it's probably the understatement of the evening, but
you know, we were fortunate that we had service that
first week of the strike, albeit you know, not full service. Well,
some of the other towns and cities had to wait
till the following week before they started. They're not full service.
(01:20):
So we're keeping our heads above water. But that's mainly
thanks to our own DPW crews who were handling some
of the trash duties and all of the recycling duties.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Wow, how does it work generally in Gloucester?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Do you have weekly pick up at all all the residences?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Is that the contract that you had with Republic?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yes, so we we had picked up Monday through Friday
for all residents, I believe for four units are under
everybody else us to do their own private contracts, and
that was spread up between the boards of the city.
You know, we all have our own assigned trash day
and it would be trash and recycling pickup every day.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So I assume the way this works is the City
of Gloucester puts an RFP request for Proposal out and
some compani has been on the contract, and you pick
the one that you feel is best for your city,
whether it's Gloucester or any of these other cities. How
long has Republic had a trash service pick up with
(02:27):
your city?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
How many years?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Well, actually the contract we're in the now was signed
by my predecessor in twenty sixteen, but it was actually
signed with JRM and Republic bought JRM. I would say, well,
I've been in office for almost four years, so sometime
in the last six years or so they purchased JRM.
So we're in the final just about fourteen months of
(02:50):
the contract with Republic.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Now, Republic is a big national company, as I understand it, correct, That.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Is correct, And so leading up to the strike, you know,
they were reaching out to our GPW director as well
as to cities in town, city and town officials and
the other fourteen communities and basically saying, you know, this
is early June. Things are going so great with the negotiations,
but don't worry. You know we have we're a national company,
(03:19):
and we'll keep you covered. And so our plan B
was they would have people their replacement workers from around
the country to do the job. But as I said,
in our case, it's still not one hundred percent on
the trash pickup, and we've had zero recycling pickup. You know,
we had to set up a drop off side at
our DPW yard, which is you know, our guys, our
(03:42):
DPW crew. They jumped right in that first day to
strike before we sat down to negotiate some sort of
payment for them. So I really appreciate what they did.
But they've been working very long hours Monday through Saturday,
you know, in different ships taking recycling and our depd
which is really impacting their ability to do work for
(04:04):
their their regular job.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So essentially you have that green barrel blue barrel pickup
system that some cities in towns have blues for the trash,
you know, for the rubbish, whatever, garbage or whatever, and
the green is for recyclables.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Right, Well, we actually have purple because we have purple
trash bags that people have to buy that you know,
we have made through contractor. And then bins. We don't
really have a required color or size of the recycling bin.
But we have a pay as you throw a system.
So if a household like me that puts out one
bag of trash maybe every three weeks, you know, I
(04:43):
pay for my bags, where if a neighbor is putting
out two or three bags every week, they pay for theirs.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Oh interesting, interesting, how do you keep track of that?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Well, most of the big supermarkets in town and a
lot of the smaller convenience stores sell bags by the role,
And we have two sizes thirty six gal and I
can't reby the other size. But like more like a
kitchen size bag and you just buy your bag, You
transfer your household waste into the purple bag, put it
(05:13):
out at the curb by seven am on you trash day,
and in the olden days it was pretty much guaranteed
that someone would pick it up along with your recycling bin.
But you know, as I said, we are doing our best.
You know, the Republic has cruised in daily you know
this nine hundred percent of what they usually were picking
(05:34):
up in an average trash day. But our guys are
working very hard to fill in the gaps.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Okay, so here's my question, and I won't put you
in the spot here, but you're not part of the negotiations. Obviously,
you have a contractual. This city has a contract for
relationship with Republic through the fact that Republic purchased the
other company that your predecessor signed the contract. Do you
(06:03):
have a sense as to who's more at fault here?
And again, I'm not trying to put you in the
spot that you conduct the question if you want, uh,
you know, is your is your heart more with the
workers or more with the company or are you just
trying to stay.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Out of it.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Well, let me just stop by saying that was one
of the most difficult things in the beginning was the
most of the many of the residents, thought we had
more control over the negotiations, and so it seems like
they've they've the messaging from US has gotten out there
that people understand that we are not at the table
with Republic and the teams that a contract with Republic,
(06:40):
and there you go. You know, I'm my wife is
a union nurse, and you know, four of my family
members were in our teachers union. So I certainly respect
the collective bargaining process, but this one is is kind
of a tricky area because trash is not something they say, Okay,
(07:00):
we'll just wait to you settle the contract and now
we'll deal with it. It's got to get picked up
or it becomes a help and safety issue. And I
do think that each side has you know, I'm not
going to get into the details, but some of the
things being asked for from each side I think are
a little bit of a stretch, and I would hope
that they would sit down and realize that, you know,
if you drop this one extreme idea, we'll drop our
(07:23):
one extreme idea and maybe we would get something layer.
But as far as I know, they haven't been in
the same room since the eighteenth of July. And if
you're not sitting there negotiating, you're probably not going to
reach a resolution.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So I'm assuming they're pretty far apart at this point.
This is not something where they're you know, fifty cents apart.
This is a there's a bigger gulf here.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Probably.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, either side taking you aside quietly and said hey, mayor,
and you know I'm asking this question. If you want
to dock it, you can dock it. Has anyone come
to you and said, hey, look, you know, hang in there.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
A week from now, we'll get this thing settled.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Is there any uh, you know, any any sidebark conferences
where someone's you know, kind of taking the pressure off
you a little bit.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Well, we've we've had discussions. Uh, neither side has called
us us hanging there. It's almost done that that that's
certainly has not happened. But you know this from maybe
not day one, maybe two or day two or three.
We we the the mayor's town manager's town ministrators have
been in constant communication and we meet. We use the
(08:31):
Microsoft teams for virtual meetings at least once a week
to all discuss what's going on in our communities, and
then after we chat for a little bit, we bring
in Republics officials to talk about what where they are.
And the story hasn't really changed much, but we're we're continuing.
That's why these six of us, uh, you know, the
(08:53):
foest cities and the two towns joined forces to file
that complaint a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I don't understand why why the judge didn't order them
back for public safety reasons. I thought the position of
the towns would have been something. You know, it's not
police and fired. I get that it's not e mts,
but it gets pretty darn close when you start talking
about trash on the streets.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I'm as what the judge chose not to do.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a labor lawyer, but I'm
not a lawyer at all. I should say, Okay, well,
so here, here's here's the tricky part. Could they order
if they ordered republic to do what they're supposed to
do per our contract. That that's that's two things. One
is either that tells them go and settle the contract,
give whatever the union wants to them, get them back
to work, or get enough replacement workers here to do
(09:48):
the job. In the earlier days of the strike, there
was a there were other strikes, you know, in other
parts of the country. So as those got resolved, apparently
from being told by republic that freed up some of
those other workers to be shipped to Massachusetts to help
us out. But as I said, it really hasn't happened fully.
(10:09):
I believe Danvers and Pevity we're going back to curbside
recycling pickup last week. I'm not sure how that worked
out throughout the whole week or how it started out
with today, first day of the week, but we have
not gotten any indications. And that was one of the
issues that was also going on in the early days
of the strike, as we'd get a call from Republics saying, Okay,
(10:30):
tell you people to put their trash and recycling out
and we're going to pick them up, and then they
don't come, and then we the city officials, anytown officials
looked like dummies because we told them to move the
trash out, and then later we're saying, please pull your track,
You're sorry you're recycling, and now pull it in. So
the communications have gotten better between us communities and Republic,
(10:52):
But it's pretty much every time we meet, it's just
more of the same of they're not getting any closer
in there.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
So as far as you understand that, taking it from
from what you just said, was that normal trash pickup
has resumed in Peebty in Danvers by replacement Republic workers
or or Republic workers from other parts of the country.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It's correct on the replacement workers for the country, but
it was resuming curbside recycling pickup. The trash has.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Been okay, just recycled, Okay, just recycling, Okay, fine, fair enough.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
So the trash had been getting picked up since into
the second week of the strike. All of us were
getting some form of trash pickup.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Boy, this is going to be really frustrating for you.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
May or you you're much calmer than I would be.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
That is, that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I you know, I'm a mixed mind here.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I certainly want the union to be able to get
what they want.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
My question is, do you are there other companies that
that you folks, that are similar to Republic. Does Republic
pretty much have a monopoly on this because they're so big,
or when their contract comes up for renewal. Are there
other companies of similar size that are going to want
to bid you a contract?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Well, I think that republic is price sye to say
that they're the biggest, if one of the biggest players
in the region. But our contract is up, as I
said earlier, next September, and you know, we will be
looking carefully at what we put out for bid, and you,
depending on what kind of contract gets settled with Republican teamsters,
(12:37):
you know that'll be help us with our calculation.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Well.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Also, if a company is not treating their employees, well,
that might be a reason why you want to take
a look at other companies so you don't run into
this problem again. So Mayor Berger, thanks so much for
your time. You really have I think clarified a lot
of my questions and I really appreciate you time on
this one and I wish you're.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Best to look. Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Keep us posted.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Okay, Thanks may Mayor Greg Berger, the beautiful city of Gloucester. Okay,
if you're one of those communities that are affected, love
to know from the perspective of the homeowners and the renters,
what are you doing, How how's it being handled in
the your community? It's more than just the six communities
who sued, by the way, it's actually fourteen communities six, one, seven, two,
(13:26):
ten thirty, six one seven, nine, three, one, ten thirty.
If you've never called us, give us a call. Love
to know how you're dealing with this. In the heat
of the summer especially, has to be difficult. I feel
for everyone in these communities, and I'd like to give
you an opportunity to say you to say your your peace.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
It's as simple as that. Back on Nightside right after.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
This, you're on night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
All right, there are six communities Beverly, Moulding, Gloster, Peberty, Danvers,
and Canton who are primarily affected by this strike, which
starts week six tomorrow. So I'm doing this because I
want to hear from people in Beverly, Mauldon, Gloucester, Pebety,
(14:16):
Danvers and Canton especially. There are other communities that are
less affected by it, including Boston. But it just seems
to me that this is an incredible inconvenience for everyone
who is affected by this. Obviously, the union wants their
(14:37):
contract improved.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Everybody knew a contract was coming up.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
How does a company like this republic not negotiate in
good faith in advance with the union so that people
in the communities that they are serving are not inconvenience.
Let me go to Jack in Newton. Jack, you are
not a fact as far as I know, but you
(15:03):
have a thought right ahead.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Jack, Well, I usually talk about the Middle East or
Jewish issues. But the two reasons why I'm really interested
in this is one friends of mine in Milwaukee, the
Pelts Brothers, they owned a what's kind of a smallish
recycling company, and they sold out to Waste Management for
(15:25):
twenty million dollars.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
That was another big company.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
And what's happened is that it's become really big business
and its conglomeration. I hope that mayor might be listening
to us. What explains it is that the smaller companies
like the Pelts Brothers and smaller ones that nobody hears about,
is being taken over by these huge companies. And they're
very tough and they have tough lawyers, and you know
(15:53):
it's I think that explains their question is why are
the smaller companies selling out to the bigger company.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, I think I think it's it's basically, you know,
you start a company, you build a company up. Maybe
maybe the uh, the family is not interested, you know,
the the next generation.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
It's an old story. Jack, the next generation says.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I don't want to spend the rest of my life
as a trash collector or running out of trash collector.
The people who worked into the bone and started the
company whenever it was, they're tired, they're older, and they
can walk away with a with a big pay day.
And who comes in but the big company with a
fat paycheck with a fat checkbook.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
That could be true in the cases of my friends
and Milauckey Day. The second generation and even the third
did stay in the business and so they sold out
because they got a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
So at some point, at some point, the business becomes successful,
very successful if it's well run. And maybe it's the
second generation who carries it on, or the third generation.
But you know as well as I do that at
some point, the fourth or the fifth generation.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
They don't have to work as hot as you know.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
The first or second generation. It's an old story. Uh,
it's America.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
I mean, my father was in the scrap metal Recyclangagically
I didn't want to do that you didn't.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'm just saying, Jack, I think when I say it's
an old story, I think it is a story that
that you and I probably understand. And everybody in America
wants their kids to do better. And what better way
When you have a company that has just grown like
Topsy and it's worth millions of dollars. There comes a
(17:55):
point in time. Look, I have friends of mine who
who were automobile mechanics and then they have a company,
and all of a sudden, another company comes along, and
that's what happens.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But I also think.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
That these towns should now start to look at some
of these second and tier companies. You know, maybe maybe
it's not the best thing to go with the biggest company.
Maybe it's better to go with a smaller company and
be guaranteed that the contract will be fulfilled.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I don't know. I mean, if they're not.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Can I can I add just one more thing? I
hope the mayor and others are listening. I think we
need Like in my condo conflict, we are overwhelmed by
cardboard boxes people buying online. We've got to buy more locally,
and we have to reduce the cardboard if we have
(18:48):
less cardboard, it will be less cost. And I think
the mayor should you know, look into ourn educational program
for people to buy more locally. And that's what cardboard,
which food with garbage, it's really fluid. We should think
about recycling it into the soil or other things. We're
going to be creative because we're just up to the
(19:11):
ears with garbage. Jack.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
I have measured that in the show okay and several times,
and that is I don't know where all the refuge
that we generate is going. And I got to tell you, you know,
you talk about cardboard coming in Amazon when people order online, Well,
that same cardboard. You know, whether it's a washing machine
(19:34):
or a dishwasher or a washer dryer, any big ticket
item is going to be shipped, whether it's a toaster oven,
it's going to be shipped.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
You know, you got to get.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
It from where it's manufactured to if not to retail,
you got to get it you know, through Amazon or whatever,
or or ups to your customer.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
A lot of it comes from China. We're overwhelmed by
this cardboard by Amazon. We've got to start buying locally.
We got to stop. But it's so easy. It's almost
addictive to to you know, just you know, hit. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I don't know how you change people's behavior there, Jack,
You know, I understand your point.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I understand.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
I think. I think if we tell, you know, the
people in my condo complex, it's going to cost more
money for fees, and it'll increase condo fees. Maybe they'll
start thinking about buying locally.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Well that's the point. Yeah, you you can do that,
you know, at your condominium.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
You can say hey, look, if you're going to take it,
uh and and impose you know, greater cost, someone's going
to have to pick it up.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Simple, simple as that, Jack. I got a run as always.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Thanks very much for calling in sure by.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Very thoughtful, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Six one seven thirty six one seven nine three ten thirty.
I really want to know how is it going on
the ground. That's what I'd like to hear from people
in some of these communities. Beverly, Maldon, Gloucester. We heard
from the Mayor of Gloucester, PbD, Danvers and Canton.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
What is your community doing? It sounds to me.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Like Mayor Greg Virga of Gloucester was really much, very
much on top of it. I was very impressed with
He did not ask from and we never give our
questions in advance, but he had all the answers. I
will tell you that we're changing topics at ten o'clock,
So if this is something you're interested in, now's the
time to call. We're going to talk about peace talks
(21:31):
in the Middle East. Jeff Robbins will join us beginning
at ten o'clock. There's a lot going on over there,
a lot of moving parts. This is a much simpler,
I think, story to talk about, and a much simpler
story potentially problem. We're dilemita to solve Jack's suggestions. We're good,
love to hear yours. Join the conversation, and I'd love
(21:52):
to know what's your experience is. What are you doing
in those communities? Are you taking your trash personally somewhere else?
Have they set up in your community as apparently they haven't,
glocester some alternative options. Feel free join the conversation people.
Last week we talked about this briefly. They said, oh,
I want you to talk about it more because I
went to call and the lines were busy. Lines are
(22:15):
not busy right now six one, seven, two four ten
thirty six, one seven, nine thirty call too late. We'll
be moving on to a different topic.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
At ten.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Okay, let's get as many people in as we can.
Let me go to Strati in Endover. Strati.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I don't ever recall speaking with someone named Strati before walk.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
On to Night's Side.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
Hey, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
What is it like in Endover? You're one of the communities,
are that I know you not? Actually if are you
impacted at all by this or no?
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Indirectly? I actually run a business that is my home
base is in Middleton, YEP. And it's a commercial condo
complex where I rent a couple of units and our
trash removal service at the business was actually affected by
the strike. And the nature of my business generates a
(23:15):
lot of cardboard, a lot of packaging waste, and it
got really interesting, basically like half filling my unit with
packaging that wasn't being picked up for the past, you know,
several weeks. So you know, thankfully it's not smelly waste,
but it just was a gross inconvenience. I have called
(23:40):
a couple of times really love your program, Love to
listen to it whenever I can, and appreciate you taking
my call. I don't want to derail the direction of
the conversation, and I'm not going to comment to necessarily
defend Republic as a corporation, because you know, you want
to take care of your people and whatnot. But they're
(24:00):
there are just a couple of topics, a couple of
points I want to make that I've heard from some people,
people who are on the inside.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Don't have.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
Yeah. So we're entering now the sixth week of what
people think are negotiations over this strike. But my understanding
is that the the employees who are striking have not
come to the negotiating table at all. They made their demands, and.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
What may of Rger told me was that they have
not been across the table from each other for two weeks.
So that implicit in that is that there was some
period of exchange. I don't know, and I asked for
Maya Burger about how far they apart. He said he
did not know. Apparently, the Republic company said today that
(24:52):
they're willing to talk to.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
The union when the union wants to settle the contract.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
I think that's a cheap shot by Republic at the Union,
and and the reason I think that, frankly, is I
assume that everybody wants to.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Settle the contract. The question is on terms. Go ahead.
I didn't mean to interrupt, but I wanted to bring
up here.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (25:10):
No, So so that that sounds more than fair on
both sides, you know, And you're right, it sounds like
it's kind of a jab on the corporation side. But
my understanding is through this whole process, of course, you know,
Republic has you know, the Union made their demands. You know,
this is what we want to have happen. We want
to be fair, to be compensated and rewarded for our
(25:32):
work in means that are similar to surrounded communities. And
Republic was like, okay, well, you know, this is what
we bring to the table. And my understanding is the
Union basically acted as though they drew a line in
the sand and it was going to be hey, you
either meet our demands or were walking out. There was
(25:54):
no conversation about any sort of compromise. There was no
you know what I mean. So it's it's kind of
odd to me that, you know, my business I run
in sales and it's a retail establishment, and there is
a lot of barter involved in what I do. And
if I make a proposal to a customer and the
(26:15):
customer is, you know, making a counter offer, there's an
exchange of conversation to meet somewhere in the middle. There's
been no middle.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
No, I understand that.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
But here's what I'm trying to say in defense of
the union. Let me go to I'll defend st a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
It seems to me that I don't know what the
parameters are. I don't know what Republic offered, if anything.
I assume they put something on the table. I assume
the union has said that's not enough. Now, when you
think about it, how long can the union stay out
on strike? How long can those workers who have to
feed their families. There comes a point in time.
Speaker 6 (26:55):
Where you know, the union something's got to give.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Something's got to give.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
So maybe what Republic says is, look, we'll we'll bring
will incur the cost of bringing people in from around
the country, We'll do as good a job as we
can uh, and eventually the union will cave.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
And maybe the union is saying we're not gonna cave.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
We're going to stand and that's that's what's called, you know, negotiations. Now,
whether or not they might be a judge that came
in for some sort of compulsory arbitration or some form
of mediation, there is a public health issue here.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
This is not.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
You know, there's there's some real public interest here because
people in these communities are being affected, homeowners are being affected.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
And I agree you're a victim.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. I mean, in
my own inconvenience, it was literally just an inconvenience. But
in the meantime, I don't have like, you know, five
weeks of food waste kicking around making things terrible.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
And sure some people are trying to figure out what
to do with it and all that. And the reason
I'm doing this tonight.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
We could I couldn't even imagine the subjects.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Is to try to put a little pressure on both
sides to get this thing resolved.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (28:08):
I think it would obviously benefit everyone if they actually
all came to the table with reasonable heads and realized that, Okay,
you know, the Union is not going to get everything,
Republic is not going to withhold everything, but at some
point there's going to be an in between the and
that's the other comment I wanted to make, which you.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Got to be quick, Fody because.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
Past, yeah, very quick. The other previous caller was talking about,
you know, these small companies that are getting absorbed by conglomerates,
you know, the small independent trash companies. In most cases,
in like ninety nine percent of cases, I am a major,
major proponent for small business. I own a small business,
(28:51):
but in the interest of efficiency for sanitation, I'm actually
a big, big proponent aside from being bullied, a big
proponent of a conglomerate dealing with sanitation just because they
have the most efficient and safest facilities to process trash.
(29:13):
You know, I wouldn't want like a tiny company dealing
with hundreds of you know, homeowners refuse and you know,
overlooking check.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
That's why I prefer to fly on big planes as
opposed to small planes.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Same.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
There you go, there you go.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:28):
Thanks, Hey, Dan, thanks for your show.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Thank you very much, appreciate it. We're coming right back
on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Where we'll get everybody in.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
If you want to give us a quick call, you
got one line at six one seven thirty, brenton Maine,
Brent next on Nightside, Go right ahead, Yes.
Speaker 8 (29:51):
I'm calling you.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
A response to the person who mentioned Amazon and how
that creates a lot of kiboard waste. I think maybe
Amazon needs to be approached because I ordered things on
Amazon and I'll get a very small item that probably
could have been shipped in an envelope and it's as
in a cardboard box, fairly substantial cardboard box.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Don't do I don't do a lot of Amazon buying.
I would prefer to as a I'd prefer to go
to a store. To be really honest with my kids
love buying Amazon and stuff like that. They you just
shit at the computer, but you know it's but sometimes
it will come with packing materials as well, and it's like,
wait a second, this could have been just shipped. But
(30:41):
I guess they want to make sure that people aren't
sending stuff back that's broken. Maybe that's why they're doing it, Brent,
I don't know, but I think that's a I think
that's a great complimentary phone call to what Jack from
Newton had to say.
Speaker 7 (30:54):
And also when you added about packing materials, I've seen
things packed. They are all sorts of wrap, and they're
not fragile things. They're not things that would break. Uh,
so you brought up another good plan. I never thought
of the packing of the aerial, but sometimes I think
there's excessive packing this ceial.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I love getting the bubble wrap because then I can
step on it and amuse myself for five minutes only kidding.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Oh oh, I love to do that too.
Speaker 7 (31:20):
I love to I don't. I don't step on it.
I just hold it in my hands and pop it.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Yeah, no, I understand it's It is still amazing to
me how much waste we create every year. And I
have no idea where it's going. I really don't. Where
I live now, I take trash to the dump. I
there's there's pickup. There's no town pick up. It's a
(31:45):
if you want to have commercial pickup, it's very expensive.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
And so you pay a fee once a year and
you can go to the dump every day you want.
And I'm a clean freak. I want to get stuff
out of my house. I don't want it sitting in
the garage. I don't want it sitting in barrels. If
I have to go every day, it's only like three
miles away. I make it. It's part of my routine
(32:11):
and I'm happy to do it. But every day i'm there,
there's like other people. Friend of mine who runs a
dump in another town told me that this is not
a big town that on a Sunday they'll get as
many as six thousand people coming to the dump with stuff.
Where's it going?
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Wow? No, anyway, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I Brett appreciate it. Haven't heard from you in a while.
I hope you keep listening, and I hope you call
more often. Oh.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
I do listen, particularly in the summertime. You take care.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Okay, what's the matter with the winter there is the
reception not good.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
In the one a time, I'm usually doing other things
rather than listen to the radio. I turned on the
radio my main house. And in the winter time I've
been staying with my sister and usually watching TV and
doing doing other things. And if I'm in Prince Edwin Island, Uh.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Well, just remember watching too much for making salt celtifying. Okay, thanks,
but I appreciate your call. Talk to you soon. Jim
in Kansas City. Jim, go right ahead, sir, Oh got
to hit the button. Hit missed the button. Jim My Fault, go.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
Right ahead, jim Dan, Hey, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
How you've been I've been great, sir. What's your what's
your take on this? This is a big story back here.
I don't expect that it's impacting Kansas City, but it's
a big.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Big story.
Speaker 8 (33:40):
They kind of here too. I don't know, I don't
know how it's going, but they got it here too.
Got it's all over the United States. But uh, I
can't imagine anything more important than listening to the radio.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
But uh, thank you.
Speaker 8 (33:52):
Look, you know you did answer one of my questions,
which is have you ever been to the landflow? But uh,
you know, have you ever been to the commercial side
of the landfall, to the side that there's a there's
a there's a there's like a side where you pay
onesies twosies go there on Sunday and there's a a
(34:13):
commercial side where all the trash, big trash companies go
and they pay by the ton, and they get waited
on the way in and waited on the way out.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well, no, we have we have a wast station, but
it generally is maybe a commercial company that does landscaping,
so they're bringing in uh you know trash, not trash,
they're they're bringing in uh you know, trees or whatever
like that. So there is a commercial no, but in
terms of the big the trucks come in, the trucks
load up and they leave, and where they go gaudily nose.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
They must go to real big commercial land sights.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
It.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
Well, that's what I'm asking you. Okay, imagine okay, I'm
just I'm kind of angling for these guys that do
the work. I mean, imagine being on a mountain literally
a min out and it's made of like diapers and
hypodermic needles and hygien chicken gust. Absolutely, Okay, you go
(35:10):
into where your truck, you get stuck. You've got to
get out and you know put the guy will come
with a dozer and a cable. You've got to crawl
underneath your truck and look at the cable on your truck.
Well you're crawling through the diapers and the So just
ask yourself how much? How much? How much would you
want to be paid to do that?
Speaker 3 (35:31):
You got it, Jim, I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
But but but the visuals I can I can see
people turning my radio off now with the visuals that
you just painting, they don't.
Speaker 8 (35:42):
Need to think about. All they're going to do is
just pay pay these people with their works. You've got
how much? How much you want to be paid to
crawl around in that?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, most CEOs of companies the size of Republic trash
services in the winter.
Speaker 8 (35:57):
In the winter, in the winter time, you're up to
your ankles in slush. In the summer.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I want to get more local caller, and thanks very
much for the call boy. I'll tell you Jim has
wound up. Neil and Bedford.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Neil want to get you in here, go right ahead.
Speaker 9 (36:15):
Yes, I live in Bedford and do we use Republic.
But our town is not involved in this, you know?
In this uh right, Uh, the town pays on a
contract and if if, if, if Republic is going to
give the the workers what they want, how do they
(36:37):
get that back if they have a contract, like with Bedford,
we pay a certain amount per tentage?
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Were Yeah, well sure, I mean if they don't make
the money up, they don't. They don't have money trees
in these towns. But you know as well as I do.
You put it out to bid and if Republic comes
in too much. Maybe you go with another company. I mean,
it's it's the typical process. It's like it's the same
(37:03):
as the Red Sox. You know, when some guy comes
in and looking for a big contract, you say, well,
what's he going to do for us next year? Same
way with this and the town. At this point, the
town has paid. This contract doesn't run out with the
town until next September, but I guess the contract with
the employees has expired. So now the town is in
(37:25):
the awkward situation where they don't have trash pick up
and they may not have it for a few more
weeks or whatever.
Speaker 9 (37:32):
Right, and they can't come back to the town. The
public clinical go back to the town and say, oh,
we want more for the contract. Now they've to shout
the other fourteen months and they can't. And that doesn't
give them extra money to pay what the workers want.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
That should have been anticipating on the Republic, shouldn't it.
Speaker 9 (37:49):
I said again, I.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Think the Republic needed to anticipate that they need to
get their contract sqright away. Hey, I hate to do
this to you, Neil.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
You call it late.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
If you called her we could have a longer conversation.
But I got a newscast coming down the pike.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
Thank you very much for calling.
Speaker 6 (38:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
We came back and to be talking with Jeff Robbins
about the Middle East.
It's Nightside with Dan Ray on WBZ, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
All right, well, we have been following a little bit
this trash strike which has impacted six communities big time Beverly, Mouldon, Gloucester, PbD,
Danvers and Canton. There are fourteen other communities that have
been affected somewhat less. But the company that has been
(00:29):
on strike, Republic Trash Services. The union has been out
since July first, so that's thirty one days. Today is
August fourth, they finish their fifth full week on strike.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
If my short division is correct.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
And with us tonight is the Mayor of Gloucester, Greg Virga.
Mayor Virga, Welcome to Nightside. Sorry to chat with you
under these circumstances, but first, how are you doing? And
how is how's Gloucester doing.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We're doing okay, you know, think could be better. I
think that it's probably the understatement of the evening, but
you know, we were fortunate that we had service that
first week of the strike, albeit you know, not full service. Well,
some of the other towns and cities had to wait
till the following week before they started. They're not full service.
(01:20):
So we're keeping our heads above water. But that's mainly
thanks to our own DPW crews who were handling some
of the trash duties and all of the recycling duties.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Wow, how does it work generally in Gloucester?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Do you have weekly pick up at all all the residences?
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Is that the contract that you had with Republic?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yes, so we we had picked up Monday through Friday
for all residents, I believe for four units are under
everybody else us to do their own private contracts, and
that was spread up between the boards of the city.
You know, we all have our own assigned trash day
and it would be trash and recycling pickup every day.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
So I assume the way this works is the City
of Gloucester puts an RFP request for Proposal out and
some compani has been on the contract, and you pick
the one that you feel is best for your city,
whether it's Gloucester or any of these other cities. How
long has Republic had a trash service pick up with
(02:27):
your city?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
How many years?
Speaker 4 (02:29):
Well, actually the contract we're in the now was signed
by my predecessor in twenty sixteen, but it was actually
signed with JRM and Republic bought JRM. I would say, well,
I've been in office for almost four years, so sometime
in the last six years or so they purchased JRM.
So we're in the final just about fourteen months of
(02:50):
the contract with Republic.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Now, Republic is a big national company, as I understand it, correct, That.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Is correct, And so leading up to the strike, you know,
they were reaching out to our GPW director as well
as to cities in town, city and town officials and
the other fourteen communities and basically saying, you know, this
is early June. Things are going so great with the negotiations,
but don't worry. You know we have we're a national company,
(03:19):
and we'll keep you covered. And so our plan B
was they would have people their replacement workers from around
the country to do the job. But as I said,
in our case, it's still not one hundred percent on
the trash pickup, and we've had zero recycling pickup. You know,
we had to set up a drop off side at
our DPW yard, which is you know, our guys, our
(03:42):
DPW crew. They jumped right in that first day to
strike before we sat down to negotiate some sort of
payment for them. So I really appreciate what they did.
But they've been working very long hours Monday through Saturday,
you know, in different ships taking recycling and our depd
which is really impacting their ability to do work for
(04:04):
their their regular job.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
So essentially you have that green barrel blue barrel pickup
system that some cities in towns have blues for the trash,
you know, for the rubbish, whatever, garbage or whatever, and
the green is for recyclables.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Right, Well, we actually have purple because we have purple
trash bags that people have to buy that you know,
we have made through contractor. And then bins. We don't
really have a required color or size of the recycling bin.
But we have a pay as you throw a system.
So if a household like me that puts out one
bag of trash maybe every three weeks, you know, I
(04:43):
pay for my bags, where if a neighbor is putting
out two or three bags every week, they pay for theirs.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
Oh interesting, interesting, how do you keep track of that?
Speaker 4 (04:53):
Well, most of the big supermarkets in town and a
lot of the smaller convenience stores sell bags by the role,
And we have two sizes thirty six gal and I
can't reby the other size. But like more like a
kitchen size bag and you just buy your bag, You
transfer your household waste into the purple bag, put it
(05:13):
out at the curb by seven am on you trash day,
and in the olden days it was pretty much guaranteed
that someone would pick it up along with your recycling bin.
But you know, as I said, we are doing our best.
You know, the Republic has cruised in daily you know
this nine hundred percent of what they usually were picking
(05:34):
up in an average trash day. But our guys are
working very hard to fill in the gaps.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Okay, so here's my question, and I won't put you
in the spot here, but you're not part of the negotiations. Obviously,
you have a contractual. This city has a contract for
relationship with Republic through the fact that Republic purchased the
other company that your predecessor signed the contract. Do you
(06:03):
have a sense as to who's more at fault here?
And again, I'm not trying to put you in the
spot that you conduct the question if you want, uh,
you know, is your is your heart more with the
workers or more with the company or are you just
trying to stay.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Out of it.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Well, let me just stop by saying that was one
of the most difficult things in the beginning was the
most of the many of the residents, thought we had
more control over the negotiations, and so it seems like
they've they've the messaging from US has gotten out there
that people understand that we are not at the table
with Republic and the teams that a contract with Republic,
(06:40):
and there you go. You know, I'm my wife is
a union nurse, and you know, four of my family
members were in our teachers union. So I certainly respect
the collective bargaining process, but this one is is kind
of a tricky area because trash is not something they say, Okay,
(07:00):
we'll just wait to you settle the contract and now
we'll deal with it. It's got to get picked up
or it becomes a help and safety issue. And I
do think that each side has you know, I'm not
going to get into the details, but some of the
things being asked for from each side I think are
a little bit of a stretch, and I would hope
that they would sit down and realize that, you know,
if you drop this one extreme idea, we'll drop our
(07:23):
one extreme idea and maybe we would get something layer.
But as far as I know, they haven't been in
the same room since the eighteenth of July. And if
you're not sitting there negotiating, you're probably not going to
reach a resolution.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
So I'm assuming they're pretty far apart at this point.
This is not something where they're you know, fifty cents apart.
This is a there's a bigger gulf here.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
Probably.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, either side taking you aside quietly and said hey, mayor,
and you know I'm asking this question. If you want
to dock it, you can dock it. Has anyone come
to you and said, hey, look, you know, hang in there.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
A week from now, we'll get this thing settled.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Is there any uh, you know, any any sidebark conferences
where someone's you know, kind of taking the pressure off
you a little bit.
Speaker 4 (08:09):
Well, we've we've had discussions. Uh, neither side has called
us us hanging there. It's almost done that that that's
certainly has not happened. But you know this from maybe
not day one, maybe two or day two or three.
We we the the mayor's town manager's town ministrators have
been in constant communication and we meet. We use the
(08:31):
Microsoft teams for virtual meetings at least once a week
to all discuss what's going on in our communities, and
then after we chat for a little bit, we bring
in Republics officials to talk about what where they are.
And the story hasn't really changed much, but we're we're continuing.
That's why these six of us, uh, you know, the
(08:53):
foest cities and the two towns joined forces to file
that complaint a couple of weeks ago.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I don't understand why why the judge didn't order them
back for public safety reasons. I thought the position of
the towns would have been something. You know, it's not
police and fired. I get that it's not e mts,
but it gets pretty darn close when you start talking
about trash on the streets.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
I'm as what the judge chose not to do.
Speaker 4 (09:23):
Yeah, I'm not I'm not a labor lawyer, but I'm
not a lawyer at all. I should say, Okay, well,
so here, here's here's the tricky part. Could they order
if they ordered republic to do what they're supposed to
do per our contract. That that's that's two things. One
is either that tells them go and settle the contract,
give whatever the union wants to them, get them back
to work, or get enough replacement workers here to do
(09:48):
the job. In the earlier days of the strike, there
was a there were other strikes, you know, in other
parts of the country. So as those got resolved, apparently
from being told by republic that freed up some of
those other workers to be shipped to Massachusetts to help
us out. But as I said, it really hasn't happened fully.
(10:09):
I believe Danvers and Pevity we're going back to curbside
recycling pickup last week. I'm not sure how that worked
out throughout the whole week or how it started out
with today, first day of the week, but we have
not gotten any indications. And that was one of the
issues that was also going on in the early days
of the strike, as we'd get a call from Republics saying, Okay,
(10:30):
tell you people to put their trash and recycling out
and we're going to pick them up, and then they
don't come, and then we the city officials, anytown officials
looked like dummies because we told them to move the
trash out, and then later we're saying, please pull your track,
You're sorry you're recycling, and now pull it in. So
the communications have gotten better between us communities and Republic,
(10:52):
But it's pretty much every time we meet, it's just
more of the same of they're not getting any closer
in there.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
So as far as you understand that, taking it from
from what you just said, was that normal trash pickup
has resumed in Peebty in Danvers by replacement Republic workers
or or Republic workers from other parts of the country.
Speaker 4 (11:16):
It's correct on the replacement workers for the country, but
it was resuming curbside recycling pickup. The trash has.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Been okay, just recycled, Okay, just recycling, Okay, fine, fair enough.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
So the trash had been getting picked up since into
the second week of the strike. All of us were
getting some form of trash pickup.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Boy, this is going to be really frustrating for you.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
May or you you're much calmer than I would be.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
That is, that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I you know, I'm a mixed mind here.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I certainly want the union to be able to get
what they want.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
My question is, do you are there other companies that
that you folks, that are similar to Republic. Does Republic
pretty much have a monopoly on this because they're so big,
or when their contract comes up for renewal. Are there
other companies of similar size that are going to want
to bid you a contract?
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Well, I think that republic is price sye to say
that they're the biggest, if one of the biggest players
in the region. But our contract is up, as I
said earlier, next September, and you know, we will be
looking carefully at what we put out for bid, and you,
depending on what kind of contract gets settled with Republican teamsters,
(12:37):
you know that'll be help us with our calculation.
Speaker 3 (12:40):
Well.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Also, if a company is not treating their employees, well,
that might be a reason why you want to take
a look at other companies so you don't run into
this problem again. So Mayor Berger, thanks so much for
your time. You really have I think clarified a lot
of my questions and I really appreciate you time on
this one and I wish you're.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Best to look. Thanks so much.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Keep us posted.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Okay, Thanks may Mayor Greg Berger, the beautiful city of Gloucester. Okay,
if you're one of those communities that are affected, love
to know from the perspective of the homeowners and the renters,
what are you doing, How how's it being handled in
the your community? It's more than just the six communities
who sued, by the way, it's actually fourteen communities six, one, seven, two,
(13:26):
ten thirty, six one seven, nine, three, one, ten thirty.
If you've never called us, give us a call. Love
to know how you're dealing with this. In the heat
of the summer especially, has to be difficult. I feel
for everyone in these communities, and I'd like to give
you an opportunity to say you to say your your peace.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
It's as simple as that. Back on Nightside right after.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
This, you're on night Side with Dan Ray on w BZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
All right, there are six communities Beverly, Moulding, Gloster, Peberty, Danvers,
and Canton who are primarily affected by this strike, which
starts week six tomorrow. So I'm doing this because I
want to hear from people in Beverly, Mauldon, Gloucester, Pebety,
(14:16):
Danvers and Canton especially. There are other communities that are
less affected by it, including Boston. But it just seems
to me that this is an incredible inconvenience for everyone
who is affected by this. Obviously, the union wants their
(14:37):
contract improved.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Everybody knew a contract was coming up.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
How does a company like this republic not negotiate in
good faith in advance with the union so that people
in the communities that they are serving are not inconvenience.
Let me go to Jack in Newton. Jack, you are
not a fact as far as I know, but you
(15:03):
have a thought right ahead.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
Jack, Well, I usually talk about the Middle East or
Jewish issues. But the two reasons why I'm really interested
in this is one friends of mine in Milwaukee, the
Pelts Brothers, they owned a what's kind of a smallish
recycling company, and they sold out to Waste Management for
(15:25):
twenty million dollars.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
That was another big company.
Speaker 5 (15:30):
And what's happened is that it's become really big business
and its conglomeration. I hope that mayor might be listening
to us. What explains it is that the smaller companies
like the Pelts Brothers and smaller ones that nobody hears about,
is being taken over by these huge companies. And they're
very tough and they have tough lawyers, and you know
(15:53):
it's I think that explains their question is why are
the smaller companies selling out to the bigger company.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, I think I think it's it's basically, you know,
you start a company, you build a company up. Maybe
maybe the uh, the family is not interested, you know,
the the next generation.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
It's an old story. Jack, the next generation says.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
I don't want to spend the rest of my life
as a trash collector or running out of trash collector.
The people who worked into the bone and started the
company whenever it was, they're tired, they're older, and they
can walk away with a with a big pay day.
And who comes in but the big company with a
fat paycheck with a fat checkbook.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
That could be true in the cases of my friends
and Milauckey Day. The second generation and even the third
did stay in the business and so they sold out
because they got a lot of money.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
So at some point, at some point, the business becomes successful,
very successful if it's well run. And maybe it's the
second generation who carries it on, or the third generation.
But you know as well as I do that at
some point, the fourth or the fifth generation.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
They don't have to work as hot as you know.
Speaker 2 (17:17):
The first or second generation. It's an old story. Uh,
it's America.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
I mean, my father was in the scrap metal Recyclangagically
I didn't want to do that you didn't.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'm just saying, Jack, I think when I say it's
an old story, I think it is a story that
that you and I probably understand. And everybody in America
wants their kids to do better. And what better way
When you have a company that has just grown like
Topsy and it's worth millions of dollars. There comes a
(17:55):
point in time. Look, I have friends of mine who
who were automobile mechanics and then they have a company,
and all of a sudden, another company comes along, and
that's what happens.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
But I also think.
Speaker 2 (18:07):
That these towns should now start to look at some
of these second and tier companies. You know, maybe maybe
it's not the best thing to go with the biggest company.
Maybe it's better to go with a smaller company and
be guaranteed that the contract will be fulfilled.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
I don't know. I mean, if they're not.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Can I can I add just one more thing? I
hope the mayor and others are listening. I think we
need Like in my condo conflict, we are overwhelmed by
cardboard boxes people buying online. We've got to buy more locally,
and we have to reduce the cardboard if we have
(18:48):
less cardboard, it will be less cost. And I think
the mayor should you know, look into ourn educational program
for people to buy more locally. And that's what cardboard,
which food with garbage, it's really fluid. We should think
about recycling it into the soil or other things. We're
going to be creative because we're just up to the
(19:11):
ears with garbage. Jack.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
I have measured that in the show okay and several times,
and that is I don't know where all the refuge
that we generate is going. And I got to tell you, you know,
you talk about cardboard coming in Amazon when people order online, Well,
that same cardboard. You know, whether it's a washing machine
(19:34):
or a dishwasher or a washer dryer, any big ticket
item is going to be shipped, whether it's a toaster oven,
it's going to be shipped.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
You know, you got to get.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
It from where it's manufactured to if not to retail,
you got to get it you know, through Amazon or whatever,
or or ups to your customer.
Speaker 5 (20:02):
A lot of it comes from China. We're overwhelmed by
this cardboard by Amazon. We've got to start buying locally.
We got to stop. But it's so easy. It's almost
addictive to to you know, just you know, hit. I
don't know.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I don't know how you change people's behavior there, Jack,
You know, I understand your point.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
I understand.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
I think. I think if we tell, you know, the
people in my condo complex, it's going to cost more
money for fees, and it'll increase condo fees. Maybe they'll
start thinking about buying locally.
Speaker 3 (20:31):
Well that's the point. Yeah, you you can do that,
you know, at your condominium.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
You can say hey, look, if you're going to take it,
uh and and impose you know, greater cost, someone's going
to have to pick it up.
Speaker 3 (20:45):
Simple, simple as that, Jack. I got a run as always.
Speaker 5 (20:47):
Thanks very much for calling in sure by.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
Very thoughtful, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (20:52):
Six one seven thirty six one seven nine three ten thirty.
I really want to know how is it going on
the ground. That's what I'd like to hear from people
in some of these communities. Beverly, Maldon, Gloucester. We heard
from the Mayor of Gloucester, PbD, Danvers and Canton.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
What is your community doing? It sounds to me.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
Like Mayor Greg Virga of Gloucester was really much, very
much on top of it. I was very impressed with
He did not ask from and we never give our
questions in advance, but he had all the answers. I
will tell you that we're changing topics at ten o'clock,
So if this is something you're interested in, now's the
time to call. We're going to talk about peace talks
(21:31):
in the Middle East. Jeff Robbins will join us beginning
at ten o'clock. There's a lot going on over there,
a lot of moving parts. This is a much simpler,
I think, story to talk about, and a much simpler
story potentially problem. We're dilemita to solve Jack's suggestions. We're good,
love to hear yours. Join the conversation, and I'd love
(21:52):
to know what's your experience is. What are you doing
in those communities? Are you taking your trash personally somewhere else?
Have they set up in your community as apparently they haven't,
glocester some alternative options. Feel free join the conversation people.
Last week we talked about this briefly. They said, oh,
I want you to talk about it more because I
went to call and the lines were busy. Lines are
(22:15):
not busy right now six one, seven, two four ten
thirty six, one seven, nine thirty call too late. We'll
be moving on to a different topic.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
At ten.
Speaker 1 (22:24):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
Okay, let's get as many people in as we can.
Let me go to Strati in Endover. Strati.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
I don't ever recall speaking with someone named Strati before walk.
Speaker 3 (22:39):
On to Night's Side.
Speaker 6 (22:41):
Hey, thank you, Dan.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
What is it like in Endover? You're one of the communities,
are that I know you not? Actually if are you
impacted at all by this or no?
Speaker 6 (22:52):
Indirectly? I actually run a business that is my home
base is in Middleton, YEP. And it's a commercial condo
complex where I rent a couple of units and our
trash removal service at the business was actually affected by
the strike. And the nature of my business generates a
(23:15):
lot of cardboard, a lot of packaging waste, and it
got really interesting, basically like half filling my unit with
packaging that wasn't being picked up for the past, you know,
several weeks. So you know, thankfully it's not smelly waste,
but it just was a gross inconvenience. I have called
(23:40):
a couple of times really love your program, Love to
listen to it whenever I can, and appreciate you taking
my call. I don't want to derail the direction of
the conversation, and I'm not going to comment to necessarily
defend Republic as a corporation, because you know, you want
to take care of your people and whatnot. But they're
(24:00):
there are just a couple of topics, a couple of
points I want to make that I've heard from some people,
people who are on the inside.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Don't have.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
Yeah. So we're entering now the sixth week of what
people think are negotiations over this strike. But my understanding
is that the the employees who are striking have not
come to the negotiating table at all. They made their demands, and.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
What may of Rger told me was that they have
not been across the table from each other for two weeks.
So that implicit in that is that there was some
period of exchange. I don't know, and I asked for
Maya Burger about how far they apart. He said he
did not know. Apparently, the Republic company said today that
(24:52):
they're willing to talk to.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
The union when the union wants to settle the contract.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
I think that's a cheap shot by Republic at the Union,
and and the reason I think that, frankly, is I
assume that everybody wants to.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Settle the contract. The question is on terms. Go ahead.
I didn't mean to interrupt, but I wanted to bring
up here.
Speaker 7 (25:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (25:10):
No, So so that that sounds more than fair on
both sides, you know, And you're right, it sounds like
it's kind of a jab on the corporation side. But
my understanding is through this whole process, of course, you know,
Republic has you know, the Union made their demands. You know,
this is what we want to have happen. We want
to be fair, to be compensated and rewarded for our
(25:32):
work in means that are similar to surrounded communities. And
Republic was like, okay, well, you know, this is what
we bring to the table. And my understanding is the
Union basically acted as though they drew a line in
the sand and it was going to be hey, you
either meet our demands or were walking out. There was
(25:54):
no conversation about any sort of compromise. There was no
you know what I mean. So it's it's kind of
odd to me that, you know, my business I run
in sales and it's a retail establishment, and there is
a lot of barter involved in what I do. And
if I make a proposal to a customer and the
(26:15):
customer is, you know, making a counter offer, there's an
exchange of conversation to meet somewhere in the middle. There's
been no middle.
Speaker 3 (26:25):
No, I understand that.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
But here's what I'm trying to say in defense of
the union. Let me go to I'll defend st a
little bit.
Speaker 3 (26:32):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
It seems to me that I don't know what the
parameters are. I don't know what Republic offered, if anything.
I assume they put something on the table. I assume
the union has said that's not enough. Now, when you
think about it, how long can the union stay out
on strike? How long can those workers who have to
feed their families. There comes a point in time.
Speaker 6 (26:55):
Where you know, the union something's got to give.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Something's got to give.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
So maybe what Republic says is, look, we'll we'll bring
will incur the cost of bringing people in from around
the country, We'll do as good a job as we
can uh, and eventually the union will cave.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
And maybe the union is saying we're not gonna cave.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
We're going to stand and that's that's what's called, you know, negotiations. Now,
whether or not they might be a judge that came
in for some sort of compulsory arbitration or some form
of mediation, there is a public health issue here.
Speaker 3 (27:28):
This is not.
Speaker 2 (27:31):
You know, there's there's some real public interest here because
people in these communities are being affected, homeowners are being affected.
Speaker 3 (27:39):
And I agree you're a victim.
Speaker 6 (27:45):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. I mean, in
my own inconvenience, it was literally just an inconvenience. But
in the meantime, I don't have like, you know, five
weeks of food waste kicking around making things terrible.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
And sure some people are trying to figure out what
to do with it and all that. And the reason
I'm doing this tonight.
Speaker 6 (28:01):
We could I couldn't even imagine the subjects.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
Is to try to put a little pressure on both
sides to get this thing resolved.
Speaker 5 (28:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (28:08):
I think it would obviously benefit everyone if they actually
all came to the table with reasonable heads and realized that, Okay,
you know, the Union is not going to get everything,
Republic is not going to withhold everything, but at some
point there's going to be an in between the and
that's the other comment I wanted to make, which you.
Speaker 3 (28:28):
Got to be quick, Fody because.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
Past, yeah, very quick. The other previous caller was talking about,
you know, these small companies that are getting absorbed by conglomerates,
you know, the small independent trash companies. In most cases,
in like ninety nine percent of cases, I am a major,
major proponent for small business. I own a small business,
(28:51):
but in the interest of efficiency for sanitation, I'm actually
a big, big proponent aside from being bullied, a big
proponent of a conglomerate dealing with sanitation just because they
have the most efficient and safest facilities to process trash.
(29:13):
You know, I wouldn't want like a tiny company dealing
with hundreds of you know, homeowners refuse and you know,
overlooking check.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
That's why I prefer to fly on big planes as
opposed to small planes.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Same.
Speaker 6 (29:27):
There you go, there you go.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:28):
Thanks, Hey, Dan, thanks for your show.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Thank you very much, appreciate it. We're coming right back
on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Night Side with Dan Ray on WBS Boston's news radio.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
Where we'll get everybody in.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
If you want to give us a quick call, you
got one line at six one seven thirty, brenton Maine,
Brent next on Nightside, Go right ahead, Yes.
Speaker 8 (29:51):
I'm calling you.
Speaker 7 (29:51):
A response to the person who mentioned Amazon and how
that creates a lot of kiboard waste. I think maybe
Amazon needs to be approached because I ordered things on
Amazon and I'll get a very small item that probably
could have been shipped in an envelope and it's as
in a cardboard box, fairly substantial cardboard box.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Don't do I don't do a lot of Amazon buying.
I would prefer to as a I'd prefer to go
to a store. To be really honest with my kids
love buying Amazon and stuff like that. They you just
shit at the computer, but you know it's but sometimes
it will come with packing materials as well, and it's like,
wait a second, this could have been just shipped. But
(30:41):
I guess they want to make sure that people aren't
sending stuff back that's broken. Maybe that's why they're doing it, Brent,
I don't know, but I think that's a I think
that's a great complimentary phone call to what Jack from
Newton had to say.
Speaker 7 (30:54):
And also when you added about packing materials, I've seen
things packed. They are all sorts of wrap, and they're
not fragile things. They're not things that would break. Uh,
so you brought up another good plan. I never thought
of the packing of the aerial, but sometimes I think
there's excessive packing this ceial.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
I love getting the bubble wrap because then I can
step on it and amuse myself for five minutes only kidding.
Speaker 8 (31:17):
Oh oh, I love to do that too.
Speaker 7 (31:20):
I love to I don't. I don't step on it.
I just hold it in my hands and pop it.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Yeah, no, I understand it's It is still amazing to
me how much waste we create every year. And I
have no idea where it's going. I really don't. Where
I live now, I take trash to the dump. I
there's there's pickup. There's no town pick up. It's a
(31:45):
if you want to have commercial pickup, it's very expensive.
Speaker 3 (31:49):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
And so you pay a fee once a year and
you can go to the dump every day you want.
And I'm a clean freak. I want to get stuff
out of my house. I don't want it sitting in
the garage. I don't want it sitting in barrels. If
I have to go every day, it's only like three
miles away. I make it. It's part of my routine
(32:11):
and I'm happy to do it. But every day i'm there,
there's like other people. Friend of mine who runs a
dump in another town told me that this is not
a big town that on a Sunday they'll get as
many as six thousand people coming to the dump with stuff.
Where's it going?
Speaker 7 (32:32):
Wow? No, anyway, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
I Brett appreciate it. Haven't heard from you in a while.
I hope you keep listening, and I hope you call
more often. Oh.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
I do listen, particularly in the summertime. You take care.
Speaker 3 (32:46):
Okay, what's the matter with the winter there is the
reception not good.
Speaker 7 (32:52):
In the one a time, I'm usually doing other things
rather than listen to the radio. I turned on the
radio my main house. And in the winter time I've
been staying with my sister and usually watching TV and
doing doing other things. And if I'm in Prince Edwin Island, Uh.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Well, just remember watching too much for making salt celtifying. Okay, thanks,
but I appreciate your call. Talk to you soon. Jim
in Kansas City. Jim, go right ahead, sir, Oh got
to hit the button. Hit missed the button. Jim My Fault, go.
Speaker 8 (33:28):
Right ahead, jim Dan, Hey, thanks for taking my call.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
How you've been I've been great, sir. What's your what's
your take on this? This is a big story back here.
I don't expect that it's impacting Kansas City, but it's
a big.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Big story.
Speaker 8 (33:40):
They kind of here too. I don't know, I don't
know how it's going, but they got it here too.
Got it's all over the United States. But uh, I
can't imagine anything more important than listening to the radio.
Speaker 9 (33:49):
But uh, thank you.
Speaker 8 (33:52):
Look, you know you did answer one of my questions,
which is have you ever been to the landflow? But uh,
you know, have you ever been to the commercial side
of the landfall, to the side that there's a there's
a there's a there's like a side where you pay
onesies twosies go there on Sunday and there's a a
(34:13):
commercial side where all the trash, big trash companies go
and they pay by the ton, and they get waited
on the way in and waited on the way out.
Speaker 2 (34:22):
Well, no, we have we have a wast station, but
it generally is maybe a commercial company that does landscaping,
so they're bringing in uh you know trash, not trash,
they're they're bringing in uh you know, trees or whatever
like that. So there is a commercial no, but in
terms of the big the trucks come in, the trucks
load up and they leave, and where they go gaudily nose.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
They must go to real big commercial land sights.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
It.
Speaker 8 (34:48):
Well, that's what I'm asking you. Okay, imagine okay, I'm
just I'm kind of angling for these guys that do
the work. I mean, imagine being on a mountain literally
a min out and it's made of like diapers and
hypodermic needles and hygien chicken gust. Absolutely, Okay, you go
(35:10):
into where your truck, you get stuck. You've got to
get out and you know put the guy will come
with a dozer and a cable. You've got to crawl
underneath your truck and look at the cable on your truck.
Well you're crawling through the diapers and the So just
ask yourself how much? How much? How much would you
want to be paid to do that?
Speaker 3 (35:31):
You got it, Jim, I couldn't agree with you more.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
But but but the visuals I can I can see
people turning my radio off now with the visuals that
you just painting, they don't.
Speaker 8 (35:42):
Need to think about. All they're going to do is
just pay pay these people with their works. You've got
how much? How much you want to be paid to
crawl around in that?
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, most CEOs of companies the size of Republic trash
services in the winter.
Speaker 8 (35:57):
In the winter, in the winter time, you're up to
your ankles in slush. In the summer.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
I want to get more local caller, and thanks very
much for the call boy. I'll tell you Jim has
wound up. Neil and Bedford.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Neil want to get you in here, go right ahead.
Speaker 9 (36:15):
Yes, I live in Bedford and do we use Republic.
But our town is not involved in this, you know?
In this uh right, Uh, the town pays on a
contract and if if, if, if Republic is going to
give the the workers what they want, how do they
(36:37):
get that back if they have a contract, like with Bedford,
we pay a certain amount per tentage?
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Were Yeah, well sure, I mean if they don't make
the money up, they don't. They don't have money trees
in these towns. But you know as well as I do.
You put it out to bid and if Republic comes
in too much. Maybe you go with another company. I mean,
it's it's the typical process. It's like it's the same
(37:03):
as the Red Sox. You know, when some guy comes
in and looking for a big contract, you say, well,
what's he going to do for us next year? Same
way with this and the town. At this point, the
town has paid. This contract doesn't run out with the
town until next September, but I guess the contract with
the employees has expired. So now the town is in
(37:25):
the awkward situation where they don't have trash pick up
and they may not have it for a few more
weeks or whatever.
Speaker 9 (37:32):
Right, and they can't come back to the town. The
public clinical go back to the town and say, oh,
we want more for the contract. Now they've to shout
the other fourteen months and they can't. And that doesn't
give them extra money to pay what the workers want.
Speaker 3 (37:46):
That should have been anticipating on the Republic, shouldn't it.
Speaker 9 (37:49):
I said again, I.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Think the Republic needed to anticipate that they need to
get their contract sqright away. Hey, I hate to do
this to you, Neil.
Speaker 5 (37:58):
You call it late.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
If you called her we could have a longer conversation.
But I got a newscast coming down the pike.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
Thank you very much for calling.
Speaker 6 (38:05):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
We came back and to be talking with Jeff Robbins
about the Middle East.
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