Judge tosses trash company's latest lawsuit over strike

A Boston federal judge again denied a trash collection company's request for a restraining order against the local Teamsters union that's been on strike for a month. Meanwhile, in a separate lawsuit, cities and towns lost their bid to force the company to pick up residents' garbage.

Republic Services, which provides trash service to 400,000 customers in Massachusetts, had filed suit against Teamsters Local 25, alleging the union has taken part in unlawful strike activity and prohibited the company from doing business by blocking trucks and harassing replacement workers.

Federal Judge Brian E. Murphy first denied Republic's request for an injunction and restraining order after a hearing July 21. He denied Republic's motion for reconsideration on Wednesday,

The company and the union have been at a standoff since July 1, when 450 local workers went on strike calling for better wages, benefits and stronger labor protections.

In court filings, the union denied the accusations of harassment or vandalism. They acknowledged the first days of the strike were "contentious" but since then "the tension between the parties has dissipated." They also disputed Republic's earlier claims that a union members may have stolen a truck.

Republic already dropped claims against one union official who they accused of spitting on a security guard and slashing tires. The union official entered into evidence a Market Basket receipt showing he was 40 minutes away grocery shopping at the time of the alleged incident.

Six cities and towns in Greater Boston, including Beverly, Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Malden and Peabody, filed suit earlier this month demanding Republic Services fulfill its contracts, pick up the accumulating garbage and pay for the municipalities' costs.

An Essex Superior Court judge, Kathleen M. McCarthy-Neyman, denied that motion, while seeming to note she was hamstrung by the law and realities of the situation.

"The court is left with an obvious problem affecting the daily lives of the residents and businesses in the municipalities, but no effective way to remediate it," she wrote. "The court cannot resolve the labor dispute between Republic and the Teamsters."

Republic Services Thursday released a statement saying they "empathize with our customers and communities affected by Teamsters Local 25’s work stoppage."

"We are working hard to continue providing service, and our collection operations continue to improve," the statement said.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Teamsters said Republic's woes are because of a lack of drivers.

"Republic’s inability to provide adequate service is because they don’t have enough non-union drivers and the ones that they have are not capable of operating their trucks in an efficient manner," the statement said.

Political leaders including Gov. Maura Healey, State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, several mayors and the members of the Boston City Council have all urged Republic to reach a fair deal with the Teamsters.