Unite takes its message across Europe

Unite activists have been telling Veolia shareholders across Europe that they will not go away and will continue to fight for recognition at the French waste giant’s Sheffield waste depot.

As Veolia continues to refuse union recognition for workers at the depot in Yorkshire, Unite has continued to escalate the dispute. 

This week activists travelled across western Europe to target major shareholders of the French waste company, alerting them to the company’s union busting tactics in the UK and calling on them to pressurise Veolia’s management to recognise Unite for collective bargaining. 

They also met with European sister unions explaining what Veolia was trying to workers in Britain.

Workers at the Lumley Street depot in Sheffield have been on continuous strike since August in their attempts to get the company to accept their wishes to be represented by Unite.

Unite members and activists have been protesting in four European cities on targeting shareholders, these were:

Monday 3 March – Paris – Amundi, Caisse des Depots and Natixis

Tuesday 4 March – Brussels – Amundi 

Wednesday 5 March – Frankfurt – Credit Agricole and Natixis 

Thursday 6 March – Amsterdam – Amundi 

Throughout the tour of Veolia shareholders the Unite activists have received solid support from European unions.

On Tuesday (Match 4) comrades from BTB ABVV in Brussels joined the protest in solidarity.

Jens Cassiers from BTB Transport said, “ABVV BTB stands in solidarity with the workers of Veolia in Sheffield and demand the immediate signing of the agreement.”

Fellow BTB Transport member Sven Hemelaers echoed Jens words, adding a message for the strikers “Stay strong comrades – let’s fight together.”

On Wednesday the protests moved to Frankfurt where Zeynep Bicici from IG BAU joined Unite activists and sent a message of solidarity.

Zeynep said, “Freedom of association is a fundamental right, and the recognition of a trade union is essential for employees to have a real voice.

“Veolia’s public and private shareholders cannot stand by as the company undermines basic trade union rights in the UK. Throughout Europe, just like my trade union, IG-BAU, many unions affiliated to Uni Europe are organized in many sectors by Veolia, and we will not allow it to become an anti-union company in any country.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Unite members at Veolia in Sheffield. Their fight is our fight. Veolia must respect workers’ rights and recognize Unite now.”

Before the activists headed to Europe Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Veolia needs to realise that Unite will not stop at just targeting its operations in Sheffield. We will expose its actions throughout Europe. And we will ensure its shareholders are acutely aware of Veolia’s actions.”

The protests across Europe are just the latest escalation of Unite’s major campaign to ensure that union-busting at Veolia’s operation in Sheffield stops. 

Unite continues to demand that Veolia respects the wishes of the workforce and signs a collective bargaining agreement with Unite in Sheffield. It also calls on senior management in Paris to step in to resolve the dispute and end union-busting tactics. 

Unite has already received messages of support and calls for Veolia bosses in Paris to end the dispute from French MPs and unions. 

Veolia runs Sheffield’s bins and recycling service through a contract with the city council. Veolia is making huge profits from this contract – while the council teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. Veolia made £11.7 million in profit from Sheffield in 2023, while the council faces a budget shortfall of £18.1 million. 

Unite will continue to fight for members seeking recognition at Veolia and the General Secretary said, “Our members have been on continuous strike since the summer and their morale and determination are to be applauded. They have the full support of their union and we will use every resource at our disposal to back their battle.”

By Keith Hatch