Veolia staff continue strike for union recognition

Workers from the Unite union demonstrated outside Sheffield Town Hall earlier this year

Bin workers in Sheffield have voted to continue strike action which began more than a year ago.

Refuse company Veolia said about a quarter of its Lumley Street workforce were members of Unite, 37 of whom have been striking since August 2024 for union recognition and better pay and conditions.

The GMB Union, which said it had about 180 members at the depot, has clashed with Unite as it wants to maintain the sole recognition it has held since 2004.

Beth Whittaker from Veolia, which is contracted by Sheffield City Council, said: "This is an inter-union dispute… Instead of continuing this strike action, Unite should be approaching the existing trade union to find a solution."

Veolia has insisted that recognising a second union would break its existing agreement with the GMB, and risk wider-scale industrial action from those members.

Unite maintained that the decision rested "solely with Veolia".

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our claim for recognition is not about a piece of paper. It is about fighting to win decent pay and conditions for workers."

Staff had a "democratic right" to be represented by a union of their choice, Unite said, adding it would be happy to share recognition with the GMB.

An application for recognition was rejected by the government's central arbitration committee in April due to a collective bargaining agreement already being in place.

Veolia said the GMB Union must consent to it recognising another union, while Unite said the decision rested "solely with Veolia"

Earlier this year, the GMB and Veolia agreed an 8% pay rise over two years and a £750 bonus for all staff at the depot.

Peter Davies of the GMB said previously: "Rights have been hard-fought for over recent decades, and our reps and members will not give them up. We have good terms and conditions.

"We won't give in to any union-busting attempts whether that is by an employer or, sadly, another trade union."

A GMB spokesperson added that its members had remained united both in the union and in their work.

"Bins are being emptied across the city as normal. It's hard to see what the point of it all is," they added.

Sheffield City Council said the strike had had minimal impact on bin collections and recycling.

Councillor Joe Otten, chair of the environmental services committee, said previously: "Veolia are willing to work with both unions however the GMB must approve this change, and no agreement has been reached."

In July, Veolia began legal action against Unite and Ms Graham, saying they had launched a "defamatory campaign" against its employees, partners and investors.

The company said it was standing up to the union's "excessive tactics" and had not taken the decision lightly.

Unite said it "completely and utterly" denied any allegation of defamation.

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