Last week, 113 sanitation workers at Allied Waste / Republic Services in Fall River, Massachusetts voted to join Teamsters Local 251.  The new union members work as commercial drivers, residential drivers, and shakers.

"We are happy that these dedicated workers chose to be represented by the Teamsters Union," said Joe Bairos, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 251. "Sanitation work is one of the most dangerous jobs in America, and they deserve the protections of a contract. We look forward to improving their working conditions."

"My co-workers and I work hard and have been serving our communities for years," said Marco Madeiros, a 20-year front-load driver at Allied/Republic. 

Republic Services/Allied Waste is America's second largest solid waste and recycling company. In 2011, Republic earned $8.2 billion in revenues.