HARLOW LABOUR GROUP LEADER TO MEET WITH UNISON TO SUPPORT AND LISTEN TO THE COMPLAINTS OF REFUSE WORKERS AGAINST VEOLIA

HARLOW Labour are taking action to listen to and show solidarity and support for the complaints of refuse workers against the working practises of Veolia this week.

Although, Harlow Labour has welcomed the news that Unison has submitted a collective grievance to Veolia on behalf of refuse workers and will raise a number of concerns with the company, the complaints that have been levelled against Veolia have been both shocking and disappointing. Harlow Labour will be doing everything in its power to ensure that Veolia address these complaints and take action.

On Monday, Mark Ingall, Harlow Labour’s council leader will meet with regional staff from Unison to discuss the situation and show that Harlow Labour supports the refuse workers.

Mark Ingall said: “Earlier this week I was shocked to hear of serious complaints about managers being made by waste collection staff that work for Veolia in Harlow. I was also disappointed to learn that these serious complaints had not been passed onto the Council by Veolia. Harlow Labour Council are proud of our record of good industrial relations with our workforce and we expect contractors that work for us, such as Veolia, to live up to the same high standards with their employees.”

“The allegations of bullying are serious and must be urgently addressed by Veolia. Labour have always been supportive of workers being able to challenge poor employment practices and I personally will always be committed to dignity in the workplace.”

“If these allegations are found to be true then I will expect Veolia to take immediate action to rectify the situation to guarantee Harlow’s waste collection service is uninterrupted and that ensure that its workers are properly treated.”

“I welcome Harlow Tories’ recent conversion to the cause of Union action to protect workers rights. It is a pleasant surprise given Mr Halfon’s voting record in Westminster where he has previously embraced every opportunity to reduce these rights, the most recent example being his support this month for the Government’s removal of worker’s rights from the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. I am sure we all look forward to hear him call for the reversal of the 2016 trades union reform act when he next speaks in parliament.”