Republic Services Sanitation Workers in OC Authorize Strike, Creating Potential Holiday Labor Dispute

ORANGE COUNTY — Over 400 sanitation workers employed by Republic Services at facilities in Anaheim and Huntington Beach have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike against the company, should it be necessary. 

This step follows multiple contract bargaining sessions with the company since the workers’ contract expired in late September. Little progress has been made in addressing worker concerns, including excessive working hours and constant harassment on the job. These essential sanitation workers have worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that Orange County communities were kept clean and safe.

These hard-working men and women are members of Teamsters Local 396 based in Covina, California, affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and represent more than 7,000 Republic Services workers across the United States. These workers, who have made it clear that their preference is to reach a fair agreement with the company rather than a strike, serve Orange County cities such as Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and major tourist attractions, including Disneyland. If a contract is not ratified soon, Orange County could see a disruption in waste hauling during the holiday season, impacting thousands of residents and businesses.

This strike vote is part of an ongoing contract campaign by Teamsters Local 396, which is currently bargaining contracts this fall with multiple waste hauling companies in Orange County, including Republic Services, CR&R, Waste Management, Park Disposal, and WARE Disposal. These contracts cover over 1,000 sanitation workers in Orange County. 

In 2020, Republic Services’ CEO’s total compensation totaled over $12 million. The CEO’s pay was 154 times the pay of an average worker. Rather than investing profits into higher wages or new trucks, Republic Services has spent more than $736 million buying back its stock. Meanwhile, waste and recycling collection is the 5th most dangerous job in America, composed primarily of immigrants and people of color.