Support for the Veolia workers' strike in Nottinghamshire

General, Municipal, Boilermakers' and Allied Trade Union (GMB) has launched a strike campaign in Nottinghamshire in protest against low wages, in the context of a conflict with Veolia, a transnational company which, moreover, still operates in Russia. Veolia UK makes profits from its services recycling and waste management via state-funded contracts with many local authorities, including Nottinghamshire County Council.

GMB organizer Mick Coppin said: “Veolia Nottinghamshire is harvesting huge sums of money from local taxpayers. In exchange, they expect local workers that they carry out dangerous, difficult and smelly work for the minimum wage. Our members no longer have the means to heat their homes and pay their bills. They are being driven to the limit by a multi-million pound business. Veolia, which knows how to discuss commercial operations with the Russian regime, refuses to initiate negotiations with the GMB union. It's a shame. »

GMB is one of the unions which led to the fact that the English trade union confederation, the TUC, adopts a clear motion of support for the Ukrainian resistance during its recent congress[1]. For GMB, this social conflict is directly linked to humanitarian aid and assistance to union members on the front line in the Ukrainian armed forces, provided since the start of the invasion of Ukrainian territory by the Russian army.

In line with our support activities with union and popular resistance Ukrainian and out of internationalist union solidarity, the member organizations of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggles affirm their support with the strike started by Veolia workers in Nottinghamshire! We will inform in our respective countries and call for solidarity in the most appropriate, and to denounce the anti-worker policy of the multinational Veolia.

[1] TUC Congress: A Victory for Solidarity with Ukraine, a Victory for Truth.

Congrès du TUC : Une victoire pour la solidarité avec l’Ukraine, une victoire pour la vérité