The Republic Services sanitation workers strike hit July 1, trash has been piling up, communities are frustrated, and all nine of the state’s representatives in Congress have made their voices heard: end this now.

The bar advocates work stoppage in Massachusetts started on May 27, with more than 100 Boston Municipal Court criminal defendants having their charges dismissed last week due to lack of legal representation — including a number of serious assault and domestic battery cases.

This strike also needs our representatives in Congress to step up and speak up.

Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Stephen F. Lynch, Seth Moulton, Jake Auchincloss, Katherine M. Clark, William R. Keating, James P. McGovern, Richard E. Neal and Lori Trahan signed on to a joint letter urging waste management giant Republic Services to resolve their ongoing dispute with striking Teamsters Local 25 members.

“We are concerned about the lack of scheduled negotiation sessions, and we strongly urge you to return to the bargaining table in good faith and without delay,” they wrote.

Ending the bar advocate strike seems to be on a slow burner as top Beacon Hill Democrats had no timeline Monday for a resolution to a months-long work stoppage of private attorneys who are pushing lawmakers to raise the hourly rate they are paid to take on the criminal cases of people who are unable to afford representation.

Just as the Republic Services strike has been called out as a threat to public health, the bar advocate work stoppage imperils public safety. As Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Amelia Singh said after last week’s dismissal of about 125 cases, “today is an unprecedented tragedy for the victims.”

The dismissals “present a clear and continuing threat to public safety,” Suffolk DA spokesman James Borghesani said in a statement.

“Our prosecutors and victim witness advocates are working extremely hard to keep victims and other impacted persons updated on what’s happening with their cases,” Borghesani continued.

“These are difficult conversations.”

We can only imagine.

People have a right to streets free from garbage piles, and justice in the courts. Right now Massachusetts residents are struggling to cope with interruptions to both.

Senate President Karen Spilka declined to offer insight into negotiations, saying “nope” when asked if she could provide more details on talks with bar advocates.

“Nope” isn’t good enough, and our Congressional representatives should hold parties accountable. Republic and its workers should get back to the negotiating table, as should public defenders and the State Legislature.

Gov. Maura Healey said she wants to see a resolution to the work stoppage “immediately.” So do we all: the longer the strike drags on, the more cases will have to be dismissed because of the lack of public defenders.

Representatives, step up and speak up for your constituents, the ones who need their trash collected, and the ones who hope for a just resolution to their cases in state courts.

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Original story HERE.