Incinerator workers plan four weeks of strikes

Unite said workers at the incinerator in Newhaven, East Sussex had been negotiating over pay since February

Workers at a waste incinerator are planning four weeks of walk-outs, according to a trade union.

Unite said its 20 members at Veolia Energy Recovery Facility in Newhaven, East Sussex had been negotiating over pay since February.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said workers at the facility were "asking for something reasonable" but Veolia was "treating them with contempt".

Veolia said it had "proposed an offer that reflects the hard work of our team" and was "keen to find a resolution" to the dispute.

"The site will continue to be open throughout the planned industrial action and we urge Unite to engage with their members on the proposed pay deal so we can find a resolution for our teams," a Veolia spokesperson said.

The plant in Newhaven processes about half the household waste in the South Downs area and can supply enough power for 25,000 homes, according to Veolia.

Unite regional officer Nick Owen said: "Our members do a difficult, dirty and skilled job turning household waste into electricity for the national grid.

"Instead of treating them with respect and recognising the current inflationary pressures, Veolia has thrown its toys out of the pram and decided it won't even negotiate in good faith."

Unite claims Veolia has taken an "appalling approach" to mediated talks and workers are due pay rises backdated to 1 January.

The company disputes that it is not fully engaged with mediated negotiations.

"Veolia has good trade union relationships with five trade unions nationally and we have established processes to negotiate on pay and conditions for our teams," its spokesperson said.

A week of walk-outs will take place in each of November, December, January and February.

Unite and Veolia have been locked in a separate industrial dispute, which also involves the GMB Union, since August 2024 over union recognition at a bin depot in Sheffield.

Veolia took legal action against Unite in July for alleged defamation in statements about the Sheffield dispute.