Unite union preparing for Bromley binmen strike ballot

8:53am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Robert Fisk

Unite regional officer Onay Kasab Unite regional officer Onay Kasab

UNION staff are dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s in preparation for prolonged binmen strikes in Bromley in the run up to Christmas.

Unite is going through the legal processes necessary before it can ballot to see whether its members, who work for Veolia Environmental Services, want to go on strike.

They would be striking in an attempt to get four workers who were fired for gross misconduct reinstated and also in defence of another man who has been suspended over a dispute with a member of the public.

Onay Kasab, the union’s regional officer, said: “We are not talking about a one day strike.

“If we have to take action then it will be a long and prolonged action until the men are brought back to work.”

Comments(8)

PaulErith says...
9:27am Wed 24 Oct 12

The four men broke the rules and got fired. Maybe it was harsh and a disiplinary would have sufficed. However, at the end of the day, correct internal procedures were followed and they lost their jobs - end of! What gives the rest of them the right to inconvenience everyone by striking?

Report this post »

goldenbroomboy says...
11:04am Wed 24 Oct 12

Take Veolia to an Industrial Tribunal. Going on strike will just mean that staff are short of wages for Christmas, and many working people celebrate Christmas regardless of whatever Miltant Tendency may think.

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
11:51am Wed 24 Oct 12

goldenbroomboy wrote:
Take Veolia to an Industrial Tribunal. Going on strike will just mean that staff are short of wages for Christmas, and many working people celebrate Christmas regardless of whatever Miltant Tendency may think.
Exactly. If I had an issue at work, it would be down to me to take it further if I believed I had a good case. Wouldn't expect my colleagues to get involved. If I had my way, I'd ban striking full stop!

Report this post »

Slonik says...
1:33pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I can't recall ever hearing a union rep. accept that a colleague has actually done something wrong and fully deserved the disciplinary action meted out.

I reckon that, if this strike goes ahead, aggrieved residents might well feel inclined to retaliate by, for example, submitting 'before and after' pictures of their streets to show what sort of mess is routinely left behind on bin day. I wonder what excuse Mr Union-Man will have for that?

Report this post »

Lukeyboy says...
4:29pm Wed 24 Oct 12

I say everyone just takes their rubbish down to the road leading up to the tip and leaves it there. They will then have to clear it up when they get back

Report this post »

suejon says...
9:18pm Wed 24 Oct 12

if they do strike they will probably be paid extra to clear the backlog of rubbish
people should be grateful they have a job these days

Report this post »

Toolbox69 says...
1:31pm Thu 25 Oct 12

The picture of their leader says it all. As has already been said, if the employees were dismissed unfairly, the union would be better channelling its resources into having them reinstated through the tribunal process. The truth is probably that they know the company has acted within the law and so they have to resort to the usual confrontational approach when they don't get their way.

Maybe we could take our rubbish around to Kasab's home and leave it there until his members feel ready to collect it?

Report this post »

Buttercup says...
3:18pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Our glorious bin men are whinging yet again. I wonder if the householders affected by their 'action' will see a refund in their council tax for the services that they will not recieve? I very much doubt this. I have contacted the coucil many times over the behaviour of bin men in Beckenham and have never seen any improvement in their lazy, rude and selfish behaviour. I say sack them all and bring in people that actually want to work and do a good job.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree