Veolia faces threat of two Christmas strikes

Last week, collection crews in the London borough of Bromley voted to begin industrial action between Christmas and New Year following the dismissal of four operatives, while HWRC workers in Sheffield decided to recommence strikes in a row over working hours that has rumbled on since May.

The Bromley strikes, for which dates have yet to be set, follow a decision by Veolia to uphold the dismissal of four of its operatives when it was alleged that they had taken a cash tip from a resident for moving excess waste from the kerbside.

But, during an appeal into the dismissals, it was found that while the men had not accepted a cash tip for moving the waste as alleged, they had collected a large amount of bulky waste without issuing a charge.

Bromley council has claimed that the men were found to have breached bulky waste collection rules, and they had failed to issue a charge to a householder after removing the waste from the property.

Following the unsuccessful appeal, the workers trade union Unite began a seven day ballot, which resulted in staff at Veolias depots across Bromley voting to start industrial action. The union is calling on Veolia and the council to get back around the table or risk rubbish piling up on the streets.

Misleading

Councillor Colin Smith, Bromleys deputy leader and executive councillor for environment, said: It is disappointing that Unite seem hell bent on a Christmas strike despite only a quarter of Veolias staff supporting this. Unite need to stop making misleading assertions – the dismissals were clearly Veolias decision and the facts are clear. The crew picked up a substantial amount of waste, which they should not have done. They knew this and so does the union. I would appeal to the better judgement of those hard-working refuse crews as industrial action can still be avoided.

Previously Bromley council has said: Veolia have confirmed that we are not talking about removing a bag of garden waste as a favour to a little old lady here, rather an estimated 12 black bags and two large industrial Hippo bags of garden waste as well as other items such as chairs from the property concerned, the total amount of unauthorised waste collected weighing approximately 400 kilograms.

Extra mile

Onay Kasab, Unite regional officer, said: We have warned all along that our members would vote to defend their workmates, unjustly sacked for going the extra mile. This is a vote for fairness and a stand for solidarity.

Veolia bosses can no longer stick their heads in the sand they got it wrong its time to get back around the table and give the men their jobs back.

Bromley council needs to stop meddling in this dispute and let Unite and Veolia settle the matter. If it doesnt, it will only have itself to blame when the bins are not emptied this Christmas.

An unofficial walkout has already taken place at Veolias Waldo Street depot in protest against the sackings on October 4, but the staff returned to work within an hour and a half.

A Veolia Environmental Services spokesperson said: We can confirm that following an internal disciplinary procedure, four employees have been dismissed for collecting an excessive amount of unauthorised waste. We also confirm that Bromley Council had no input into this outcome.

Sheffield

Meanwhile, in Sheffield, workers at five SOVA Recycling-run HWRC sites in Deepcar, Gleadless Valley, High Green, Shirecliffe and Woodhouse, sub-contracted by Veolia have decided to go back on strike, following a summer of industrial action (see letsrecycle.com story).

Arbitration service ACAS brokered an agreement between two companies and the GMB trade union to end the dispute in October, which began when changes were made to operating hours, resulting in redundancies for seven workers and an overall reduction in work for the remaining staff.

But, the strike is back on, after the GMB claims that SOVA Recycling broke its agreement.GMB says that the strike, which is scheduled to begin on December 22, will go on indefinitely.

Councillor Jack Scott of Sheffield city council, said: Im disappointed that after concessions made that the workforces first action has been to call a strike rather than talk to SOVA. We will be taking firm action to ensure the public is not inconvenienced.

Peter Davies, GMB regional officer said: The new winter hours were to start at the end of October. The council, Veolia and SOVA delayed this until November due to a delay in the method statements but it soon became clear that we wouldn’t even get the hours this year. We met with SOVA on Monday and they could not confirm an implementation date.

On top of this we have seen little or no improvements in welfare facilities (inadequate wash off facilities and no wash off time) and there is a requirement to remain behind after hours if members of the public are on site with no guarantee of payment.