Sheffield bin workers back out on strike as pay dispute continues

GMB members held further strike action on Tuesday morning in Sheffield

Sheffield bin workers have continued to take strike action as part of an ongoing dispute over pay.

Members of the GMB union employed by waste firm Veolia took part in a half-day walkout on Tuesday morning.

Veolia deals with the city’s rubbish on behalf of Sheffield Council.

Dozens of workers gathered outside Veolia’s Lumley Street centre on Tuesday morning as part of the ongoing dispute.

GMB representatives want workers to get a higher pay rise than what is currently being offered by Veolia.

The union has claimed Veolia has been ‘shipping in’ workers from other parts of the country during this month’s industrial action, which included a one-day walkouts on October 5 and October 17.

GMB said workers from London were brought to Sheffield and put up in a hotel.

Speaking earlier this month, GMB organiser Lee Parkinson said: “This dispute could and should have been settled months ago.

“What has shocked us is the lengths that Veolia are prepared to go rather than sit down and negotiate a deal.

“Instead they have chosen to throw more fuel on the fire by bringing this labour in.”

A spokesman for Veolia said the company is working hard to minimise any disruption from the industrial action and thanked affected residents whose bin collections were missed for their ‘patience and understanding’.

He said an improved pay offer has been made to the union in recent days.

Veolia said all collections following the previous strike action have now been recovered successfully.

The spokesman added: “We are working hard to try to resolve this dispute and have held a number of meetings with the GMB Union, including a meeting on Friday, involving ACAS.

“At Friday’s meeting a number of improved offers were put forward by Veolia with the GMB selecting the one that they considered to be their preference, this offer was to be put to a members ballot on Monday.

“After what we believed was an extremely positive meeting, we are disappointed that the GMB feel the need to continue with this strike action whilst awaiting the result of that ballot.”

All Household Waste Recycling Centres are unaffected by the industrial action and remain open as normal between 10am and 4pm.