Dive summary:
- In the middle of a heated strike in Memphis, Tennessee, a replacement worker for Republic Services, a waste removal and recycling company, fired a shot into the air, claiming he felt threatened by the picketing workers.
- Firearms are prohibited on Republic Service property and the employee has been suspended.
- An estimated 180 Teamsters are on strike, forcing Republic Services to bring in outside employees to try and cover the most important areas of their waste removal routes, such as school and hospitals.
From the article:
Republic Services issued a statement saying, "This morning, one of our employees reporting to work at our Millington facility said he felt threatened by picketers. In response to feeling that threat, he took out a weapon he had with him and fired a shot into the air.
"Firearms are strictly prohibited on our property. As a result, the employee was immediately suspended as we work with the police to fully investigate this incident. Republic has and will continue to take all reasonable steps to protect our employees." ...
