{"id":76399,"date":"2025-12-12T16:30:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T16:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=76399"},"modified":"2025-12-13T11:05:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T11:05:25","slug":"sheffield-waste-collection-service-denies-using-agency-strike-breakers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/12\/12\/sheffield-waste-collection-service-denies-using-agency-strike-breakers\/","title":{"rendered":"Sheffield waste collection service denies using “agency strike-breakers”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A Sheffield waste collection service has disputed allegations that it has been recruiting agency staff to collect bins, while its workers continue to strike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a press release<\/a> published on its website in October, Unite<\/a>, the largest trade union in the UK, had accused Veolia of employing agency workers in Sheffield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a bid to disrupt this practice, strikers at the Lumley Street bin depot have since returned to work on a part-time basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharon Graham, general secretary for the union, said: “Veolia’s absolute refusal to negotiate, its outright dismissal of a reasonable pay claim, and its use of agency strike-breakers means Unite’s tactics will now seek to cause maximum disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Enough is enough.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unite’s members, referred to by some as the ‘Lumley Street Warriors,’ have been engaged in all-out strike since August 2024, when they first demanded that Veolia recognise their union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the last recognition offer having been withdrawn just under a year ago, workers at the Lumley Street depot are continuing to fight for their needs to be met.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beth Whittaker, chief HR officer for Veolia Northern Europe, said that Veolia has not used agency labour to replace striking workers and described the strike as “an inter-union dispute, which Unite could end tomorrow”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said: \u201cUnite is changing tack and moving towards a route that they say will cause maximum disruption for Sheffield residents. But, for more than a year, Veolia has navigated Unite\u2019s continuous strike action, with teams working incredibly hard to minimise any disruption to residents\u2019 collections and this will continue to be our focus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will continue to stand against Unite’s campaign of defamation and remain eager to see a resolution that will enable our colleagues to return to work.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sheffield bin workers picketing in the snow during their 20th week of strike action.
(Source: Alistair Tice)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Veolia maintains that, if it recognises Unite, GMB Union<\/a>, which holds majority membership at the depot, has promised to launch a counter-dispute, bringing the company’s waste collection services to a halt across the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the strikers have refuted any claims that this is an inter-union dispute, arguing that it is the company’s responsibility to respond to their demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s not another union that recognises a union, it’s an employer that recognises a union,” Chris Lamming, 58, said on the picket line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A few lads have gone back because of mental health issues. It has been tough financially and mentally.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Sheffield waste collection service has disputed allegations that it has been recruiting agency staff to collect bins, while its workers continue to strike. In a press release published on its website in October, Unite, the largest trade union in the UK, had accused Veolia of employing agency workers in Sheffield. In a bid to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":273,"featured_media":76401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-76399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nSheffield waste collection service denies using "agency strike-breakers" - Sheffield Wire<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/12\/12\/sheffield-waste-collection-service-denies-using-agency-strike-breakers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sheffield waste collection service denies using "agency strike-breakers" - Sheffield Wire\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A Sheffield waste collection service has disputed allegations that it has been recruiting agency staff to collect bins, while its workers continue to strike. 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