Veolia brings defamation claim against Unite

A waste management firm has begun legal action against a trade union following a long-running dispute over union recognition in Sheffield.

Veolia allege Unite and its general secretary Sharon Graham, have mounted a "defamatory campaign" targeting its employees, partners and investors.

It comes after Unite members working at Veolia's Lumley Street site walked out in August 2024 in a row over union recognition.

Unite 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 2001.

The firm has always insisted any recognition of Unite would break its existing agreement with the GMB, which it said represented the majority of employees.

It said an application by Unite for recognition had also been rejected by the government's central arbitration committee in April.

The 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."

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