THREE union members have pleaded not guilty to "blocking" bin lorries during a recent strike and will appear for trial later in the year.
Gary Palmer, Declan MacIntyre and Carl Turner are accused of blocking bin lorries outside the Amberstone Road depot in Hailsham during the Wealden bin strike on May 27 this year.
Police made three arrests after they “repeatedly asked those involved to clear the highway”. They allegedly failed to comply and were arrested for obstructing the highway.
Appearing in Hastings Magistrates’ Court in Bohemia Road, Hastings this morning and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
They will appear for trial at Brighton Magistrates’ Court in Edward Street, Brighton on Wednesday, November 16 this year.
The defendants claim their actions on the picket line were lawful and are a “freedom of expression”, saying they have a “freedom of protest”.
They claim the arrests happened after three bin lorries driven by “strike breakers and agency staff” attempted to go past the picket line.
GMB members and picket supervisors were said to have blocked the path before a “tense stand-off” ensued.
Palmer, MacIntyre and Turner are on unconditional bail until the trial date.
A protest outside with GMB members and supporters took place from around 9.15am.
Justin Bowden, GMB regional secretary, addressed the crowd, stating: “The background to this court case is really simple. It’s about ordinary working people facing a cost of living crisis that is unprecedented in my working lifetime.
“Working people standing up against their employer to try and get paid a decent amount of money to support their families, the sort of money we’re talking about is relatively small in the grand scheme of things.
“Many of these people were paid less than 10 pounds an hour while walking 15 to 20 miles a day behind a stinking dust truck to pick up people’s rubbish. They did that during Covid when many people were lucky enough to be working at home.
“Workers made a democratic decision, complied with the law and took a last resort for strike action.
“They ultimately were victorious after six and a half weeks, when the arrests took place they were picketing and protesting peacefully.”
A Sussex Police spokesman said at the time of the arrest: “Pickets or assemblies in trade disputes are not immune from criminal law and police have powers at their disposal to respond to any issues or breaches of the peace, including any offences of blocking the highway.
"However, the use of any powers must be carefully considered to ensure they are necessary and proportionate.
"When police arrived at the scene, a number of persons were blocking the highway. The officers repeatedly asked those involved to clear the highway, but some failed to comply.”
The Wealden bin strike was called off two weeks ago, June 14, after workers for Biffa were offered up to a 27 per cent pay rise.
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