Latest news with #uniondispute
BBC News
4 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
4 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
4 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.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ryanair tells shocked cabin crew they have to pay back thousands from 2024 raise
Ryanair is demanding some of its Spanish cabin crew repay thousands of pounds in pay rises following a legal dispute with a union. The airline had initially agreed to the increase with the CCOO union last year, but a challenge from a rival union has led to a court overturning the deal. The Union Sindical Obrera (USO) contested the agreement in January, arguing it was not legally sound. A Spanish High Court judge subsequently ruled in favour of the USO, declaring the pay deal invalid. As a result, Ryanair is now demanding USO members return five months' worth of increased salary. The move has sparked anger and uncertainty among affected staff. In a letter seen by the PA news agency, Ryanair told workers the court ruling 'created an overpayment situation'. 'You were paid higher salaries in the period from October 24 to March 25 that have now been declared null and void,' it said. 'We are willing to offer a repayment plan of 12 months with the deductions starting in the payslip of June.' Ryanair separately agreed a limited pay deal with members of the other union, CCOO, that exempts them from the pay clawbacks. The USO said the pay rises that Ryanair is telling union members to return stretch as high as 3,000 euros (£2,525). A USO spokesperson told PA that Ryanair is engaging in 'union-based discrimination'. They added that Ryanair also 'encouraged (with constant emails and multiple deadline changes to do it) to sign up with CCOO to avoid the penalties'. In a separate letter sent by Ryanair to the union, it described attempts to contest the repayments as 'farcical'. The airline wrote: 'If you wish to pursue legal action against us for complying with the outcome of the court case that you won, that is entirely a matter for you.' USO members 'will be contacted and informed of the amounts they owe as a consequence of your actions', it said. A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'USO are complaining about pay cuts that result from their court case. 'Ryanair is complying with the court case that USO took to cut pay while it is under appeal. 'USO are a tiny minority union with no support from our crew, the vast majority of whom have their pay and conditions protected by an agreement with CCOO.'
BreakingNews.ie
21-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Ryanair demands cabin crew staff return pay rises amid Spanish union dispute
Ryanair has told some of its flight attendants in Spain to hand back pay rises worth thousands of euros amid a legal battle with a union. The airline had agreed a pay rise with Spain's CCOO union last year. Advertisement Another union, the Union Sindical Obrera (USO), contested the agreement in January and a judge in Spain's High Court later ruled that the pay deal was not valid. Ryanair has now told USO union members they must repay the five months' worth of salary increases as a result. In a letter seen by PA news agency, Ryanair told workers the court ruling 'created an overpayment situation'. 'You were paid higher salaries in the period from October 24 to March 25 that have now been declared null and void,' it said. Advertisement 'We are willing to offer a repayment plan of 12 months with the deductions starting in the payslip of June.' Ryanair separately agreed a limited pay deal with members of the other union, CCOO, that exempts them from the pay clawbacks. The USO said the pay rises that Ryanair is telling union members to return stretch as high as €3,000. A USO spokesperson told PA that Ryanair is engaging in 'union-based discrimination'. Advertisement They added that Ryanair also 'encouraged (with constant emails and multiple deadline changes to do it) to sign up with CCOO to avoid the penalties'. In a separate letter sent by Ryanair to the union, it described attempts to contest the repayments as 'farcical'. The airline wrote: 'If you wish to pursue legal action against us for complying with the outcome of the court case that you won, that is entirely a matter for you.' USO members 'will be contacted and informed of the amounts they owe as a consequence of your actions', it said. Advertisement A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'USO are complaining about pay cuts that result from their court case. 'Ryanair is complying with the court case that USO took to cut pay while it is under appeal. 'USO are a tiny minority union with no support from our crew, the vast majority of whom have their pay and conditions protected by an agreement with CCOO.'
