Unite members working for Veolia have voted to continue all-out industrial action as their employer refuses to recognise their union and continues to fail to sign its own proposed agreement.
Workers at a refuse centre in Sheffield have voted to continue their long-running industrial action, Unite announced today.
Unite members at the Lumley Street depot in Sheffield, employed by outsourcing company Veolia, have been on continuous strike since August in their fight to have Unite recognised by their employer for collective bargaining.
Despite Veolia's game playing and its refusal to do what is fair and right. the workers have remained strong and have reaffirmed their strike mandate.
Veolia has refused to recognise Unite, despite having similar recognition agreements all over the country.
This appalling approach to industrial relations has left workers furious, especially after a recognition agreement proposed by the employer and signed by the union was taken away at the eleventh hour by Veolia bosses.
Negotiations took place at the end of 2024 with agreement being reached by both sides.
In the lead up to and during negotiations, the employer, in written communication, had stated that it had no problem with recognition for Unite at the depot.
On this basis, an agreement was reached only for the employer to then refuse to sign it.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, says: "Despite Veolia's game playing and its refusal to do what is fair and right. the workers have remained strong and have reaffirmed their strike mandate.
This is a clear show of strength and underlines their determination that they will not be defeated.
“This ballot sends a message loud and clear to Veolia - recognise our union now because Unite are backing our members however long this fight lasts."
Veolia is now engaged in a dishonest social media campaign implying it had no intention of awarding recognition – despite its past commitment.
Legal requirements mean Unite members have to be regularly re-balloted over their decision to take strike action.
Unite is also targeting Veolia's operations in France, has protested at their attendance at a conference in Arizona and will continue to put pressure on their customers and suppliers to stop doing business with a company who does not recognise basic democratic rights.
After our members asked for Unite to be recognised, it could have been done so within days.
“Instead, Veolia has failed our members, failed the residents of Sheffield and now faces the consequences.
This long running dispute is entirely of Veolia’s own making.
Our members will continue to do whatever it takes in their fight for recognition."
