Veolia strike, Sheffield, 27.10.16, photo by A Tice (Click to enlarge)

Sheffield bin workers' action strengthens in numbers and mood

Alistair Tice, Yorkshire Socialist Party

Despite Veolia bringing in scabs and agency workers from all around the country, thousands of Sheffield's rubbish bins have not been emptied because of the city's bin workers' industrial action.

Around 150 GMB union members have now taken two full days and two half days of strike action in pursuit of their pay claim.

The bin workers' noticeboard, photo by Sheffield bin worker (Click to enlarge)

But it is the "work to management instruction" that is really causing the backlog. On the picket line today, 27 October, Michael explained: "Yesterday one crew achieved only 56% collection because if you work to management rules, then you can't walk over grass verges, you can't 'ding' [put bag from one bin into another], you can only tip one bin at once [rather than two]; and no running!"

Another striker added: "We 'dropped' [didn't collect] 800 bins yesterday, another wagon left 700".

The mood on the picket line is noticeably up, boosted by a 2 to 1 vote to reject Veolia's latest pathetic offer, and a few more workers joining the strike.

Veolia strike, Sheffield, 27.10.16, photo by A Tice (Click to enlarge)

GMB officers Lee Parkinson and Pete Davies explained that the dispute is part of a bigger picture, as the Labour council - in implementing Tory government cuts - wants to cut what it pays Veolia. It wants to "sweat the assets", which means get less staff to do longer hours, start earlier and work later.

If the bin workers win a victory over pay, they will be more confident to resist future attacks on terms and conditions. In fact, the GMB and workers are increasingly demanding that the council should strip Veolia of the whole waste management contract and bring the service back in-house but with the union and workers having control over the process.

As Michael said: "I used to love this job when it was council because you could take that extra bag, give folk a hand, even stop for a cuppa with customers on the way round. That's because it was a public service. Now I hate it because all Veolia are interested in is the literage and we end up just running behind wagons."

'Veolia Profit Machine' by Sheffield bin worker (Click to enlarge)

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 27 October 2016 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.