Unite highlights fresh issues with Veolia as strikes come to Ellesmere Port

Workers at toxic waste incineration plant preparing to fight for pay and pensions.

Unite is to begin a fresh wave of industrial action against union-busting employer Veolia as its members at Ellesmere Port in Cheshire announce strike action.

Workers at a toxic waste incineration plant are fighting for pay and pensions. Workers are demanding a fair pay increase but also want to be moved onto a full staff pension to allow them to retire with dignity. Now nearly 50 workers will take to the picket line later this month.

The union already has a recognition dispute with the company in Sheffield that has seen workers on continuous strike since last autumn. Now workers who do a dangerous and difficult job staffing a toxic waste incineration facility in Cheshire are set to walk out.

Strike action in Cheshire will take place over three days from 27-30 June and will bring the plant to a standstill and cripple its ability to dispose of hazardous waste.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

"Veolia’s callous attitude to its workers is once again resulting in industrial action. This is an incredibly lucrative company which can fully afford to pay and treat its members fairly and decently.

“Instead of treating union members like the enemy Veolia would benefit from returning to the negotiating table with an improved offer for members in Cheshire and recognising our members in Sheffield."

Veolia is a multinational firm with headquarters in Paris that earn billions from government contracts across the globe. Unite's campaign against them began last year over its failure to recognise the democratic right of workers in Sheffield to have their Unite membership recognised for collective bargaining. Now, Unite is taking the fight to the North West and tackling Veolia over pay and pensions.

Unite regional officer Ross Quinn added: 

"Our members at Ellesmere Port do one of the toughest jobs out there - dealing day in day out with hazardous toxic waste that has to be incinerated. They will not be intimidated by Veolia.

“Strikes will cause huge disruption at the incinerator and severally impact everyone who uses it but this dispute is a direct result of the high handed manner in which Veolia chooses to do business."