Republic Services faces mounting political and operational pressure as a six-week strike by its Teamsters-represented sanitation workers in Massachusetts shows no sign of ending and the union expands its national action to Little Rock, Arkansas. Roughly 400 members of Teamsters Local 25 walked off the job in early July, disrupting trash collection in at least 14 Massachusetts municipalities and triggering overflow of household waste and recycling. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on Monday sent a sharply worded letter to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark, saying the company’s failure to engage in negotiations is “beyond untenable” and poses a public-health risk. Healey demanded the Phoenix-based company return to the bargaining table immediately and said her administration is prepared to facilitate talks. Republic, which generates about $16 billion in annual revenue, replied that it is arranging a call with the governor and blamed service delays on picket-line disruptions. Republic says its latest proposal would give drivers a 16% pay bump upfront, lift overall compensation 43% over five years and bring annual earnings to roughly $140,000 by the end of the contract, while also maintaining zero-premium health coverage. The union counters that wage improvements must also cover non-union employees and accuses the company of bad-faith bargaining. Courts have twice denied Republic’s requests for an injunction against picketing, and several affected Massachusetts communities have sued the company over missed collections. With the walkout now stretching into a seventh week and spreading to Arkansas, pressure is intensifying on Republic Services to reach a deal that restores regular trash pickup and averts broader nationwide disruptions.