Binman dismissed after picking up the ‘wrong’ waste
A binman from Maidstone is among four employees who have been sacked for collecting “banned” rubbish.
Mark Reddick, 34, of Woodside Road, Mangravet, was providing holiday cover for a colleague in Medway when the crew apparently picked up building waste from an elderly man’s garden in Chatham.
He and three colleagues say they were fired for gross misconduct on Monday November 7 without being given a written or verbal warning.
They were dismissed after bosses at Veolia reviewed footage taken from a dust cart camera following a complaint by a resident.
It allegedly showed them collecting items such as bags of rubble from a house in Prospect Row, Chatham.
Married Mr Reddick, who was only on the route for a week but has worked for Veolia for eight years, said: “I’m gutted. I’ve got a mortgage to pay and it’s coming up to Christmas.
“It was just rubbish, nothing we wouldn’t normally pick up.
“I’ve got temporary work as a driver but it’s not guaranteed. I could go in and be told there’s no work for the rest of the week.”
Dave Clark, 51, and Alex Steven, 49, both from Gillingham, and Rob Jefford have also been fired.
Mr Steven said: “We were just trying to help an old man out.
“He had moved in and all these things had been left in the garden.
“We’ve had problems in the same road before, and whenever we radio in we’re always told to just throw it in.”
A petition set up by residents along the route, calling for the men to get their jobs back, has gathered almost 400 signatures.
Mr Reddick added: “It’s nice people are behind us.”
The four have been given a chance to appeal their dismissal.
A Veolia spokesman said: “Our company does not take this type of measure lightly but, in line with our standard procedures, employees are entitled to appeal.
“The four refuse operatives have submitted an appeal, and this has been arranged to be heard next week.”