Overview

• Teamsters Local 25 and Republic Services announced a five-year agreement Friday that ended the months-long work stoppage.
• Roughly 400 workers serving 14 communities began returning to their routes Monday, with collections ramping up over the next few days.
• Malden officials said drivers must complete mandatory retraining before full service is restored, and residents should anticipate continued delays.
• Union leaders describe the pact as their strongest yet, citing higher pay and expanded dental, audiology and vision benefits, though some outlets report full terms have not been publicly released.
• Cities relied on replacement crews during the strike, which at times saw tense encounters, and Republic has asked customers for patience as operations normalize.