A federal mediator was scheduled to meet with members of the Teamsters Local 25 and the trash company providing garbage services in more than a dozen Bay State cities and towns on Tuesday.

People in some parts of Northern California are seeing and smelling the effects of an ongoing waste workers strike. That includes the city of Stockton, where trash is piling up at curbsides and city leaders are demanding answers as to why they weren't warned of a strike further in advance.

Republic Services and the Teamsters have been at a standoff since July 1, when 450 local workers went on strike after the union's contract expired. Teamsters are seeking better wages, benefits and stronger labor protections.

Negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters broke down late last week. Talks are set to resume Tuesday, but the impacts of the trash strike are growing more pronounced.

Solidarity strikes with Republic Services continued Monday on the sixth day of garbage strikes in the Bay Area, which is impacting residents of two dozen cities in Northern California.

The Republic Services strike entered a 12th day Saturday. WBZ TV's Juli McDonald has that and more top stories in Boston.

A strike by trash collectors is spreading across Western Washington, meaning tens of thousands of residents could have their trash service disrupted.