Bromley split over fired binmen issue (From News Shopper)

Bromley split over Veolia Environmental Services fired binmen issue

2:12pm Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Bromley By Robert Fisk

BROMLEY people seem split over the issue of whether four fired binmen should get their jobs back.

The men were fired for gross misconduct after a Bromley Council worker photographed them putting a bag of garden waste in to the back of their refuse vehicle.

Other workers mounted a protest at the Veolia Environmental Services depot in Baths Road, Bromley, last Thursday over the sackings.

They told the News Shopper their colleagues had been asked to take the garden waste by a homeowner and did not take any money in exchange.

But it is understood Veolia, which collects household rubbish on behalf of Bromley Council, believes money did change hands so fired the crew following an internal investigation.

A poll on the News Shopper website has been running since last Thursday and asks the question: “Do you think the sacked binmen should be given their jobs back?”

Two thirds of readers who have taken part so far have voted yes (130 votes) with 64 people voting no.

And although Councillor Colin Smith cannot comment on this particular case it seems he would support the no vote.

In a statement the portfolio holder for the environment said: “Providing correct internal procedures are always followed, Bromley Council thoroughly supports all of our contractors’ rights, indeed duties as responsible employers to maintain performance standards where necessary with disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

"Whilst I am very unfortunately constrained from commenting on this particular case as it remains subject to appeal for the time being, I would say, contrary to the ill informed comments attributed to the regional Unite representative on your website that “We do not believe that even if they were found guilty of this allegation, we do not believe they should be dismissed,” that all bin crews know fully well and Unite officials certainly should too (but apparently don’t or are ignoring the fact), that doing ‘private jobs’ on duty, whether paid or otherwise, is a very serious offence which is likely as not to lead to dismissal when discovered in the act.”

Do you think the binmen should be reinstated? Have your say below.