Latest news with #SharonGraham
Leader Live
2 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Wrexham could be set for bin strikes as workers balloted
The union says the dispute comes after Wrexham Council changed the way workers in the Street Scene operation team were given overtime. Street Scene operators include refuse workers as well as those working on parks, gardens and highways. A Unite union spokesperson claims: "Previously, they were given additional days off over Christmas and can volunteer to work overtime. However, the council forced through changes without any consultation with workers or Unite, which means they now have to compulsorily work Saturdays. "This is a choice by the employer to extend the working week without agreement and means every worker would lose half a day's pay." Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary said: "The way Wrexham Council has attempted to force through these changes to working patterns, without any negotiations, is nothing short of a disgrace. "Unite will always fight to protect our members' conditions at work and they will have our full support throughout this dispute." The union claims the changes implemented by Wrexham Council will also see Unite members' pay reduced for overtime without agreement with workers or any negotiations with Unite. The union also claims that affected workers have already endured years of below inflation pay rises as well as this year's below-inflation offer of 3.2 per cent. The ballot closes on August 5 and industrial action could take place in late August. Unite members are also considering any potential strike action to take place over Christmas, when households usually have more rubbish needing to be removed than usual. Simon Ellis, Unite regional officer said: "Any bin strike in Wrexham would be extremely disruptive and we know people living in the city will not be pleased to hear about this potential action. "This is an easy dispute to fix, by maintaining our hardworking members' currently-agreed hours and overtime pay and we urge the council to come back to the negotiating table before it is too late." Alwyn Jones, Wrexham Council's interim chief executive said: "We are extremely disappointed to see Unite the Trade Union take this action especially after the lengthy and prolonged consultation the organisation undertook as part of the annual budget setting process in the 2024/25 financial year. "It is important to note that given the difficult financial position public services find themselves in, the public in Wrexham have and continue to be faced with ever increasing Council Tax bills plugging gaps in finances across the council area and protecting public service delivery. TOP STORIES "The council embarked on an extensive transformation programme in an attempt to negotiate the difficult decisions that are required to ensure we remain financially solvent. All of the recognised trade unions have been party to consultation on the detail of the budget savings proposals. "This particular saving, relating to switching refuse collections to Saturdays rather than Bank holidays brings in over £100k of savings. The proposal has been through all of the council's processes and committee cycles and consultation processes. "The department also undertook extensive consultation with the workforce on the proposals with only 19 individual responses amongst a workforce of 245 employees disagreeing with the plans. "Wrexham County Borough Council has worked hard to save jobs and continue to support in-house delivery of public services especially these frontline services. We remain committed to this principle and are very upset that this trade union has chosen to take this action and potentially put the public in the County Borough through another period of unnecessary service disruption."
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Unite canvass members on cutting ties with Labour
A survey has gone out to between 20,000 and 30,000 Unite reps across Scotland, England and Wales asking for their views on disaffiliating from the party. Unite ending its affiliation would inflict a major symbolic blow to Labour, severing its links with Britain's largest trade union. And it would deliver a punishing financial penalty, with the party currently enjoying an annual £1.4 million affiliation payment from the union. One source told The National: 'It looks like it's favourable to disaffiliate.' They said that the consultative survey was to 'test the waters' after the union voted to reconsider its relationship with the party should it continue to fail to back striking bin workers in Birmingham. In a dramatic measure last week, members voted to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's (above) membership for telling workers to accept effective pay cuts. Any decision about whether to disaffiliate from the Labour Party would need to be taken by a members' vote at a special 'rules' conference, which is not scheduled until 2027. However, it is understood that pressure from lay members or committees within the union could push this forward to an earlier date. Severance would cause financial headaches for Labour, whose finances are reportedly feeling the pinch. READ MORE: Activist slams 'draconian' law as protester arrested at Palestine Action demo An internal document warns Labour is in a 'recovery plan' this year to address its 'difficult financial position' and must secure 'at least £4m to adequately resource the 2026 elections', according to the New Statesman. A union source said it would have been 'unthinkable' for Unite to deliberate on disaffiliation even a few years ago, but said repeated blunders from Labour in power – from the Birmingham strikes to cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment cut and disability – had brought the issue into focus. The revelation about the consultation, on which Unite have publicly remained quiet, could put pressure on the union's private discussions with Labour about their relationship. Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, this week told the New Statesman that she did not want to 'scupper' talks with Labour going on behind closed doors but added that it was becoming 'harder to justify the affiliation' with the party. Unite did not respond to requests for comment. Labour were approached for comment.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Veolia brings defamation claim against Unite over Sheffield strike
A waste management firm has begun legal action against a trade union following a long-running dispute over union recognition in allege Unite and its general secretary Sharon Graham, have mounted a "defamatory campaign" targeting its employees, partners and comes after Unite members working at Veolia's Lumley Street site walked out in August 2024 in a row over union said it "completely and utterly refutes any allegation of defamation" from the firm and would continue its fight for recognition. Veolia has provided waste management and recycling services in Sheffield since firm has always insisted any recognition of Unite would break its existing agreement with the GMB, which it said represented the majority of said an application by Unite for recognition had also been rejected by the government's central arbitration committee in GMB has previously said it had "good terms and conditions" and would not give them up and said it would not give in to any "union busting attempts" by an employer or another trade union. A spokesperson for Veolia said it had not taken the decision to begin legal action lightly "but we must stand up against Unite's excessive tactics"."Despite working closely with five trade union partners across the UK, including Unite, we find ourselves targeted by this defamatory campaign," they said."We believe Sharon Graham has wasted half a million of members' money, including sending activists around the world, when the solution lies in finding an agreement with the existing trade union on site."They added they would always support good industrial relations, but would not "allow anyone to attack our business, our reputation, our colleagues or our partners with baseless accusations".A spokesperson for Unite said: "Unite completely and utterly refutes any allegation of defamation made by Veolia and we will not be scared off by yet more union-busting legal threats."From the start, this has been a campaign to allow our members' democratic right to be represented by the union of their choice - something Veolia has sought to prevent all along."They said the had been clear that they were happy to share recognition on the Lumley Street site with other unions and had "reached this agreement with Veolia before Christmas only for them to withdraw it at the last moment"."The decision on recognition, and the ability to end this dispute rests solely with Veolia. Unite will continue its campaign until Veolia agrees to our legitimate aim of recognition." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Veolia takes legal action against Unite
A waste management firm is taking legal action against a leading trade union involved in a long-running dispute over union recognition. Veolia said it has started legal action against Unite and its general Sharon Graham, claiming defamation. The company said the move followed months of protests and 'smear campaigns' by the union and attempts to harm its business. Since August 2024, dozens of Unite members based in Sheffield have been on strike in pursuit of union recognition, which Veolia claimed included a campaign of defamation. The company said Unite's actions seek to pressure it into breaking an existing union recognition agreement in place at its Sheffield site with the GMB union. A Veolia spokesperson said: 'We do not take this legal action lightly, but we must stand up against Unite's excessive tactics that are in total contrast to the quality of our industrial relations in the UK. 'Despite working closely with five trade union partners across the UK, including Unite, we find ourselves targeted by this defamatory campaign. 'We will always support good industrial relations but we will not allow anyone to attack our business, our reputation, our colleagues or our partners with baseless accusations.' Unite has been approached for a comment.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Veolia takes legal action against Unite
A waste management firm is taking legal action against a leading trade union involved in a long-running dispute over union recognition. Veolia said it has started legal action against Unite and its general Sharon Graham, claiming defamation. The company said the move followed months of protests and 'smear campaigns' by the union and attempts to harm its business. Since August 2024, dozens of Unite members based in Sheffield have been on strike in pursuit of union recognition, which Veolia claimed included a campaign of defamation. The company said Unite's actions seek to pressure it into breaking an existing union recognition agreement in place at its Sheffield site with the GMB union. A Veolia spokesperson said: 'We do not take this legal action lightly, but we must stand up against Unite's excessive tactics that are in total contrast to the quality of our industrial relations in the UK. 'Despite working closely with five trade union partners across the UK, including Unite, we find ourselves targeted by this defamatory campaign. 'We will always support good industrial relations but we will not allow anyone to attack our business, our reputation, our colleagues or our partners with baseless accusations.' Unite has been approached for a comment.
