Veolia refuse workers strike outside Sheffield Town Hall for joint union recognition
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00:00What do we want? Workers' rights!
00:02When do we want them? Now!
00:04We all need them! Shame on you!
00:06We all need them! Shame on you!
00:08We all need them! Shame on you!
00:10Our feeling is that
00:12we cannot go back until we get
00:14what we want, otherwise we're acquiescing
00:16to everything that we're protesting
00:18about. Lack of recognition
00:20unfair dismissals
00:22morale's strong
00:24there's often a carnival atmosphere
00:26but it's not always as lively
00:28as this, but in general
00:30spirits are very good
00:32we would rather be back at work
00:34but on the other hand
00:36we're on an indefinite strike
00:38we're prepared to stay
00:40until we get what we want. We have
00:42come this far, we can't possibly go
00:44halfway up to the top of the elephant right now
00:46so it's a determined and strong
00:48resolute
00:50feeling among my colleagues.
00:52What do we want?
00:54Workers' rights!
00:56What do we want?
00:58Workers' rights!
01:00Could you tell us a little bit
01:02about what Unite are doing here today
01:04with Veolia? Yes, we're
01:06sitting outside Sheffield City Council
01:08there's a council meeting and it's
01:10about talking to the councillors and
01:12asking them to support our case
01:14in that we want recognition at Veolia
01:16which is an outsourced company.
01:18Okay, so how
01:20what is the feeling amongst
01:22everybody here today? Well I think you can see
01:24behind me they are solid
01:26and they are strong and they have the whole of Unite
01:28behind them. Fantastic, and why
01:30is it important for Unite to be here as well today?
01:32It's about having a voice at the table
01:34it's about ensuring that
01:36our reps, we have reps on site
01:38we have health and safety reps on site
01:40but we're not allowed a seat at the table
01:42and we need to have a seat at the table to
01:44represent our members, to negotiate on their
01:46behalf to ensure that we can improve
01:48their terms and conditions of employment
01:50it's a simple ask, we're not asking for
01:52anything more and it's in the hands of Veolia
01:54to give it to us.