Veolia (UNITE) Strike Calendar

Workers at Veolia will now return to work periodically to disrupt employer’s use of agency strike breakers Striking workers taking part in a year-long dispute in Sheffield are set to cause greater disruption for their employer as new dates for action have been announced. Members of Unite working for Veolia at the Lumley Street depot have been on strike for over a year in their fight for union recognition. In a new tactic designed to disrupt Veolia’s use of agency staff in strike-breaking roles, workers will now periodically return to work before then heading back to the picket line.

Striking workers in Sheffield are staying strong on the picket line as the one-year anniversary of their strike action approaches. Unite members at refuse company Veolia have been on strike since 19 August 2024 in a fight for recognition. Despite having been the majority of workers at the Lumley Street site, Veolia refused to recognise Unite for collective bargaining - dealing with issues like pay, conditions, disciplinary matters and work policies. Workers remain furious at this refusal and continue to take strike action in demand of a basic democratic right. An agreement was even reached at Christmas only for Veolia to go back on the deal at the last minute.

Unite members working at a toxic waste facility in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire are celebrating a new pay deal today (26 June) after accepting an improved offer from their employer, Veolia. Workers were due to take strike action from tomorrow (June 27) over poor pay but have now accepted a two-year deal that will see them get a four per cent pay increase in year one (backdated to 1 January) and then a further increase in year two which will be the midpoint between CPI and RPI rates of inflation. Additionally, overtime will now be paid at double time and workers will see a trial period for proposed improvements to work-life balance shift times. On pensions, workers will now receive a seven per cent employer contribution.

Workers at a toxic waste incineration plant are fighting for pay and pensions. Workers are demanding a fair pay increase but also want to be moved onto a full staff pension to allow them to retire with dignity. Now nearly 50 workers will take to the picket line later this month.

Sheffield is braced for further bin delivery disruption as refuse workers employed by Veolia escalate to all out indefinite strike action from tomorrow (20 August) in a dispute over union recognition. Nearly 100 refuse workers working out of the Lumley Street depot, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, are angry over Veolia’s refusal to recognise their union. Even though Unite represents around 80 per cent of the depot’s workforce, Veolia is claiming another union, which does not represent the vast majority of workers, is the sole recognised union.

Nearly 100 refuse workers in Sheffield are to take strike action this month bringing the city’s refuse collections to a standstill, Unite the union announced today (17 July). Workers employed by outsourcing company Veolia and working out of the Lumley Street depot are furious that their employer is refusing to allow collective bargaining agreements with Unite despite the membership of the union representing around 80 per cent of the depot’s workforce.

• Strike action planned by nearly 200 Veolia workers at 22 Merseyside household waste sites will not go ahead after the workers accepted an improved pay offer.
• The two year pay deal, secured by Unite, the UK’s leading union, will see workers receive a 10 per cent pay rise backdated for the financial year 2022/23 and an 8.4 per cent increase for 2023/24.
• The lowest paid workers will also receive a one-off payment of £375.
• Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Veolia Merseyside workers stood together in their union and secured a substantial pay rise.
• Unite is totally focused on defending and improving our members jobs, pay and conditions. As this pay deal, and the hundreds of others negotiated by the union across the country, shows, it is an approach that delivers results."
• Unite regional officer John McColl said: “The pay deal secured at Veolia, is another example of why Merseyside workers should join Unite if they want better wages and working conditions.”

There was a planned strike action by Veolia workers at 22 household waste and recycling sites in Merseyside, which was scheduled to take place from Monday 2 January to Saturday 7 January. However, this strike has been postponed to allow workers to vote on a revised pay offer. If the offer is rejected, the strike will take place from Sunday 15 January to Saturday 21 January.