Peabody firefighters join striking Teamsters garbage workers in ‘solidarity’

Trash continued to pile up across more than a dozen Eastern Massachusetts towns and cities as garbagemen remained on strike for a fifth day this time with patronage from a local firefighter s union A contingent of the members of Teamsters Local continued their strike as negotiations continue with Republic Services a waste management company with operations across the nation including Massachusetts with a demonstration Saturday afternoon on Newbury Street in Peabody But they weren t alone members of Peabody Firefighters Local union displayed up in solidarity We will be delivering supplies and walking the line with our fellow union brothers and sisters in their ongoing fight for fair wages safe working conditions and dignity on the job Peabody Firefighters union president Kory Desmond wrote in a call to action for solidarity The strike in Massachusetts began on the first of the month according to the Teamsters union which added that other Teamsters unions are having similar contract disputes with Republic The strike will take as long as necessary to make certain that Republic Teamsters get what they ve rightfully earned Thomas G Mari the president of the local Teamsters union announced in a latest announcement Republic has countered that the union is engaging in criminal practices as negations continue including slashing tires on occupied vehicles harassing drivers out servicing customers threatening employees and sabotaging trucks according to earlier Herald reporting Photo by Paul Connors Media News Group Boston HeraldOverflowing trash containers are lined up in front of homes on Pond Street in Canton as Republic Services' sanitation workers continued their strike Saturday Photo by Paul Connors Media News Group Boston Herald