No one wants a strike but this ballot resulted in a 92.5% vote in favour of action that shows the level of our members’ anger at mistreatment says GMB.
GMB members working as refuse workers in Sheffield have voted overwhelmingly to strike on Friday 1st April 2016 in a dispute over bullying. Over 92% of workers voted in favour of what will be the first strike by refuse workers in Sheffield for 17 years.
The strike will be held from 6am at the address as follows:
Outside the Lumley Street service centre
Veolia Environmental Services
Lumley Street
Sheffield
S4 7ZJ
GMB members in Sheffield's bin service reported having seen the use of CCTV on round trucks result in a substantial increase in the amount and severity of disciplinary procedures and sanctions, despite the surveillance never having been agreed to or covered by policy.
Almost all disciplinary proceedings for refuse workers over the past year have resulted in accusations of gross misconduct.
Peter Davies, GMB regional organiser, said 'We have been averaging several gross misconduct cases a week in Sheffield.
One GMB member, Dave Wright, was recently sacked for health and safety breaches at Green Co, the subcontracted company that operate the Council's Household Recycling Centres, where he had little to no responsibility or influence. His manager, and Green Co themselves, were never sanctioned for these breaches and the GMB membership are incensed by this.
We believed we had a deal on all of these issues but that now looks to be disingenuous as no offer was forthcoming for Dave and workers continue to experience this aggressive use of the disciplinary procedure.
No one wants a strike but this ballot resulted in a 92.5% vote in favour of action that, I believe, shows the level of our members’ anger at the treatment of their colleagues on the receiving end of this aggression."
End
Contact: Peter Davies on 07501 228 313 or GMB press office on 07739 182691 or 07970 863411
