Bay Area sanitation workers this week joined what a union leader called a nationwide garbage “war” between the Teamsters and Republic Services — which provides trash and recycling pickups for hundreds of thousands of residents around the U.S — over wages and working conditions.

Chula Vista residents and some businesses were without trash and recycling collection on Thursday as Republic Services workers joined a nationwide strike.

As work stoppages spread, the Teamsters’ president says a waste disposal company is at “war” with sanitation workers.