Gary Palmer, regional organiser for the GMB union, and two other pickets were arrested in Hailsham, East Sussex, on Friday 27 May. Bin workers, employed by Biffa for Wealden District Council, are involved in a four-week strike to demand a decent pay rise.
The picketers were released, and Gary returned to the picket line on Monday where again they were successful in picketing the bin depot. Gary reports: “I was instructed again by the police to move, Biffa had instructed the police to arrest us. We had been successful in turning away a vehicle at the depot and a stand-off for 30-35 minutes ended with the police filming us but moving away without making arrests.”
“We are determined to continue this strike… We have announced a further two weeks of action and are receiving support and requests from other workers who want to organise and fight this cost-of-living crisis. We’ve got to seize the time, we’ve got to build the movement and show that the trade unions offer a way forward for our members.”
