Striking Sheffield bin workers picket scabs

Sheffield bin strikers protesting against use of scab labour, 22.10.16, photo by Alistair Tice (Click to enlarge)

Alistair Tice, Sheffield Socialist Party

About 50 bin workers and supporters protested on 22 October against management's use of scab drivers and loaders to undermine the GMB union's industrial action.

Sheffield bin workers, employed by Veolia the giant multinational which runs the city's waste management services on a 30 year contract, put in for a 5% pay rise.

When Veolia only offered 3% over two years GMB members voted for strike action and an overtime ban. Two one-day strikes have been held.

Veolia has advertised at regional depots offering overtime and overnight hotel stay for scabs to clear the backlog of bins.

So the GMB called a protest at the Lumley Street depot at 6am on 22 October but the scabs had sneaked out early, even though they cannot start tipping bins till 7am. Pickets waited at Bernard Road depot for them to return but again management must have diverted them.

As well as the Socialist Party, it was good to see Momentum supporters on the protest and a few Labour councillors arrived later. Motions are being put at Labour meetings to support the strikers.

The Socialist Party is petitioning the next Labour council meeting calling for Veolia to be stripped of the contract and the service taken back in-house, which is all the workers want.

Two upcoming half-day strikes this week will cause further disruption and be more difficult for management to undermine with agency and scab workers.

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