Harlow bin men set to vote on strike action
News / Mon 23rd May 2022 at 11:26am
REFUSE workers in Harlow will vote on strike action after rejecting a pay offer that fails to keep up with the rising cost of living, UNISON announces today.
The union has told contractor Veolia that workers at the Mead Park depot will start voting on industrial action unless the firm commits to come to the table by the end of the week.
Workers received no pay rise last year and have been told they will get 7% backdated to this April for the two-year period. UNISON points out that inflation since 2021 is already running at 9%, meaning staff would be taking a real-terms pay cut.
Despite having national collective bargaining agreements with UNISON, Veolia is refusing to negotiate locally on pay, leaving workers with no choice but to ballot for strikes, says the union.
UNISON Eastern regional manager Caroline Hennessy said: “Veolia’s staff are livid that the company is planning to impose a real-terms pay cut without even giving them the opportunity to talk about it.
“With spiralling energy and fuel costs, this rise will barely help refuse workers to keep their heads above water.
“No-one at the depot wants a strike or to inconvenience the people of Harlow, but Veolia is leaving us with no choice but to ballot. Bosses won’t even get around the table to discuss pay.
“The company can avoid any action by treating these workers with respect, committing to talk and making an offer that doesn’t leave staff worse off.”
Matt Stone
2022-05-23 11:50:28
Good on them. Wish more industries would fight for better terms and conditions. This tory government has everyone moaning about tube workers getting payrises rather then asking why they are not getting rises in line with inflation. They moan that nurses don't get a payrise so why should bin men, tube workers rather then holding the government accountable and asking why these industries don't get payrises.
Phil
2022-05-23 14:47:58
Most people would be very happy with a 7% pay rise.
Carol
2022-05-23 15:56:28
Bravo! If we don’t fight… we don’t get, soon it will be illegal to STRIKE.
Adam
2022-05-23 15:56:48
This is just the start.
Matt Stone
2022-05-23 16:20:21
Phil - most people are not willing to fight for 7%.
happy
2022-05-23 18:06:56
most people wont get 7%
Ned Ludd
2022-05-23 18:17:33
The pensioners did not. Even though it was a "solemn pledge" of the Government.
Bobby Bobbler
2022-05-23 18:52:02
will households get a refund for services paid for but received?
Nostradamus
2022-05-23 21:41:48
Meanwhile MPs get a £2212 a year pay rise whilst most MPs have well paid second jobs on top of a MPs average salary of £84,144!! Which could we do less of MPs or Refuse collectors? Like many of the hero's who kept things running through COVID like care workers, the bin men & women are undervalued.
james nicholson
2022-05-23 23:17:55
so, let me see if I understand, employees of a private company contracted to take our waste are voting to strike because their bosses don't wanna pay a decent payrise meaning that the rest of us will be faced with unsanitary conditions headed into summer? Simple answer is HDC withold the next payment on grounds of the contract being unfulfilled and then suggest veolia either pay a decent wage or get replaced kier style
Johnny
2022-05-24 04:00:50
Oh dear it's going to get a bit stinky 💩🙊
Darren
2022-05-24 04:15:57
James Nicholson. Tell you what mate, you go out and do the job for the same pay we’re getting right now. Private or not, the job still benefits and affects the public. You get up at 4am and slog until middle of the day when it’s hitting mid 30s in temps. Or minus temps in winter. You empty the bins when the smell is so bad it’s hard not to vomit. You empty the bins when the wheel is missing, or someone forgot to put it out. You do it when half the team is off out with Corona and you have sometimes up to 14 hours in a single day. You do it when your back is busted and your knees are giving in. All for the same pay. You are absolutely right we will strike and of course the public does indeed suffer, but the idea of a strike is to raise awareness and put pressure on those responsible for payments to ensure that the job is being done and paid fairly. If you’re against that, perhaps I should be throwing you in the back of the truck along with the waste.
Florence
2022-05-24 06:47:42
Nurses next!
Christine Wells
2022-05-24 08:50:05
I don't think that many MP's would do this job for the salary that they get. Not the nicest jobs by far. We rely on the bin men to take our rubbish away every week. Good on them for fighting!
novoman
2022-05-24 09:29:20
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211103006372/en/Veolia%C2%A0Key-Figures-as-of-September-30-2021 See how Veolia's profits are growing globally. Profits off the backs of the workers!
Theman
2022-05-24 11:28:29
We pay taxes to the council to collect our rubbish. The council pays a contractor( usually the lowest bidder) to carry out the work. To improve the pay will mean us paying more tax, with the current contractor. The council will not bring the work in house, because they can’t afford to pay the wage increase without putting up taxes, which the public don’t want to pay. Poor management all round really. Still if there is a strike, might I suggest we all take our waste to the council offices at the water gardens. At least this will keep our neighbourhood clean while the council will get the message to focus its priorities.
novoman
2022-05-24 13:46:34
Theman, doesn't mean more tax just a system that doesn't give such large profits to companies like Veiolia.
Peter P
2022-05-24 15:59:49
Stand strong brother and sisters. If you fight you won't always win. If you don't fight you will always lose
Kim Oconnor
2022-05-25 08:51:21
I harp back to the old bin men, that used to take all rubbish, and if you forget to put bin out they went in the old coal bunker and got it out. They used to take rubbish that stood against bin, that didn't fit in bin, no question s asked, then to lift the hole bins on there backs, now I've all ways respected the bin men , it's still hard work , but not as hard as the old bin men had it. But at end of day still hard work. Respect to them all.
Arnold Findlay
2022-06-18 08:16:41
7% is a fantastic payrise. They got 1.5% in 2020 which they deemed as fair, nothing in 2020 which they deemed as fair at the time considering the pandemic (many people were happy to still be in work). Then 7% for 2022 and they want to strike. #greedy I know for a fact they all get paid daily until 4pm but never have to work their full hours finishing at 1 or 2pm, this means in real terms their pay per hour is more. Maybe Veolia should start keeping them to time. My respect for those that strike will definitely go down. Probably the union pushing this rather than the employees.
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