On the eve of the Labor Day holiday, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey appeared alongside 24 striking waste service workers in Marshfield and said the group is emblematic of the organized labor that President Donald Trump has “waged war” on. The remarks came as dozens picketed outside Republic Services' office for the fourth day of the strike.
“Donald Trump has already taken over the National Labor Relations Board. Donald Trump wants to name right-wing judges to every court in the United States, so that they’ll be ready to strike down labor rights,” Markey said Sunday as passing cars blared honks of support. “That’s why it is critical that we stand here with these 24 workers.”
The two dozen striking workers, part of Teamsters Local 25, collect trash in Abington, Marshfield and Rockland. According to a press statement from the union, the workers and Republic Services are currently in dispute over wages, health insurance and other benefits.
Those on strike Sunday declined to give interviews or details about negotiations, deferring instead to Teamsters Local 25 President Sean M. O’Brien. O'Brien was unavailable for comment Sunday but said in a statement Thursday that Republic Services is "trying to lowball its employees and avoid meeting the high standards we have for workers in Massachusetts."
Republic Services, a nation-wide waste disposal company headquartered in Arizona, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
“[Trump] keeps saying that it’s never been better,” Markey said. “It’s never been better only if organized labor is out and working to make it better. That’s what happened at Stop & Shop,” he said, pointing to the multi-state strike against the grocery chain in April. The strike, which closed stores and interrupted shopping over the Easter holiday, ended after 11 days.
Markey, who is facing a potential primary challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy III, told WGBH News after his remarks that labor rights are part of his re-election platform and that he stands in solidarity with the union workers.
