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A series of strikes among bin men working for Suez Recycling and Recovery could disrupt Christmas for residents in Doncaster, according to union Unite.

It accused the company of bullying its workers and said it had no option but to ballot for industrial action.

A ballot opened on Tuesday this week and closes on 24 November. If members support industrial action, strikes could begin next month.

Unite said members had reported “widespread bullying and harassment” and it claimed the suspension of union representative Damian Nota occurred after “managers furtively trawled through historical CCTV footage to attempt to build a case against him.

“Managers have taken a similar approach to other workers who have been dismissed,” it said.

The union added that tensions had risen after the green waste collection service was suspended due to Covid-19 cases and local councillors had called for agency workers to be brought in to restore the service."

Shane Sweeting, Unite regional officer, said: “Unite has tried to resolve these matters through negotiation but without success and, as a result, members believe they have no option but to ballot for industrial action.

“Local residents will be alarmed that there could be a Christmas bin strike, but this dispute is directly of Suez’s own making.”

Suez was approached by motortransport.co.uk to comment on the situation but it declined.

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