Rubbish row rumbles on as city’s bin drivers extend strike
HGV bin drivers in Coventry are to stay on strike through the summer.
Trade union Unite said that 100% of striking workers voted for the industrial action to continue for the next few months.
The drivers have been on all out-strike since January 31 in a dispute over pay, with Unite claiming that Coventry City Council is refusing to give them the market rate for the job.
Unite is claiming the workers’ basic pay begins at £22,183 a year which it says is “far below the pay workers receive in the private sector and well below pay rates of neighbouring councils”.
Tom White Waste has been brought in to collect the city’s rubbish since the start of the year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “With another resounding vote, these workers are standing firm in their fight for the rate for the job. They have their union’s backing all the way.
“The truth is that Coventry Council is squandering millions in a failed attempt to break the strike, money that would be far better spent addressing low pay in this workforce and supporting local people through the cost of living crisis.
“The council’s responsibility now is to reach an agreement with Unite.”
Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “The drivers have been on all out strike since the beginning of the year. They continue to show tremendous bravery in their battle to be paid the rate for the job. The workers have sent a powerful message to Coventry Council. They are determined to keep up the pressure until the council reach an agreement.”
A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said: “While we are disappointed by Unite’s decision to once again ballot its members that are bin lorry drivers, we remain committed to continuing to talk with them to lawfully resolve this issue.
“We have done our best to mitigate the impact on our residents this action has caused since the start of this year while offering what we believe are generous and fair offers that remain on the table.
They are:
That no driver will earn less than £27,393
A £4,000 tax-free payment to all staff to buy-out existing working arrangements including Christmas working and the collection of side waste
A commitment to train 20 collectors in waste services staff to be HGV drivers
If we were to have turnover of 15% with our drivers, a retention payment of £500 will be paid to all remaining drivers
“The council wants to see this dispute resolved as soon as possible but we have always been clear this needs to be done lawfully in order to remain fair to the other 4,500 people we employ.”
