Sanitation workers across Bay Area are off the job as trash piles with delayed pickups

DALY CITY, Calif. (KGO) -- A smelly problem could be developing in your neighborhood as some Bay Area sanitation workers are off the job in solidarity with strikers in Manteca and on the East Coast.

That means they aren't picking up trash, which is piling up. Affected cities with both residential and commercial impacts include Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Santa Clara, Fairfield, Richmond, San Pablo, Fremont, Union City, Newark, Stockton, Manteca, and Lathrop. Only commercial trash pickup is impacted in San Jose.

The work stoppage involves Republic Services. In Boston, more than 400 trash collectors walked off the job last Tuesday, demanding higher wages and better health insurance.

Republic Services says it provides competitive wages in Boston and entered negotiations planning to raise them.

There also happens to be a strike in Philadelphia involving sanitation workers, but not with Republic Services employees. However, those workers struck a deal with the city overnight Wednesday.

Employees at local locations in Daly City and Fremont walked off the job in solidarity on Tuesday. Union representatives were out again Wedensday in Daly City holding signs, one saying "Hold Your Nose." That's what you may have to do in some neighborhoods as garbage bins begin to overflow.

Nathan Price's trash was supposed to be picked up Tuesday.. Wednesday, it still hadn't been, but he's not complaining.

"People have to protest," Price said. "They have the right to protest and be on strike or whatever it may be to mitigate wages or things like that so in full support of what other people need to do."

MORE: VTA workers approve new contract to raise wages and improve benefits, ending months-long conflict

Union representatives told ABC7 they want better pay, improved health insurance and a pension for landfill workers in Manteca, who are on strike.

"Guys out there that are standing in syringes. You see them all over the landfill, on the floor, hazardous waste and yet these guys aren't making close to what they should for supporting their families and it's crazy," said Gilbert Gomez of Teamsters Local 439.

Republic Services provided a statement saying in part:

"We are making adjustments to our operations to ensure our ability to continue providing service during this situation. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience this may cause."

In Fremont, trash pickup that normally comes Tuesday morning was delayed because of the work stoppage.

Angelita Wilson said they'll try to condense their recycling or garbage so it doesn't overflow and become an issue.

"I hope not, well if that's the case well then I guess we'll have to take it to the landfill, but of course they might be on strike too so we're just kind of waiting to see how everything develops and we'll go from there," Wilson said.

Another Fremont resident told ABC7 she received a voicemail that said pickup could come as early as Wednesday.

A city spokesperson with Fremont said they have a contract with Republic Services and are hoping this is just a one-day delay.

ABC7 spoke to Ruchika Kharbanda while she was out walking her dog Leo.

"We need it and it's part of our basic living, clean living that makes our country clean, our neighborhoods clean. So it should be done without any disruptions," Kharbanda said.

She had a sense of humor about how essential trash pickup is.

"I have a trash bag in my hand right now and I'm hoping it will get picked up tomorrow," Kharbanda said.

The city of Fremont posted an alert on Tuesday that said Republic Services is adding an extra Saturday collection to deal with the impact.

Republic Services says it provides competitive wages in Boston and entered negotiations planning to raise them.