Republic Services garbage workers strike in McDonough

Forty drivers, helpers and mechanics at Republic Services, a waste management company, began a strike in McDonough on Monday, citing what they call unfair labor practices. Efforts to reach Republic for comment were unsuccessful.

The strikers are members of the Teamsters Local Union 728 in Atlanta. Union representative Huey Vample, a Republic driver, said union members are being treated more harshly than non-union members when it comes to disciplinary actions by the company and pay. He said workers are not being paid for extra hours they put in to help co-workers.

Vample, who has been with the company for 12 years, said workers in McDonough will remain on a picket line – and away from their residential and commercial routes garbage routes - until demands for fairer treatment are met.

“We will be picketing as long as it takes,” he said.

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Christopher Seward

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