Unite and Coventry clash as council turns to agency

The strike began on 31 January after the council and Unite failed to come to an agreement on pay.

The latest dispute has arisen because the council brought in its arms length commercial waste company Tom White Waste to help collect waste to cover staff on strike.

However, the union called this a “rogue, alternative bin collection service”, claiming that the council “has recruited agency drivers on rates of between £18 – £20 an hour to drive the vehicles.”

Unite said they have written to the council, the Environment agency and  Tom White Waste, warning them that their actions “are contrary to employment law”.

Yesterday, crews also staged a protest against the council’s actions.

“I love my job, I’m always putting my best in.”

Day 3 of all out strike action for Coventry bin workers. A hard working, dedicated workforce who support local residents and businesses to keep rubbish off the streets. All @coventrycc have to do is pay them fairly. #CovBinStrike pic.twitter.com/vWQgrllMyz

— Unite West Midlands (@UniteWestMids) February 2, 2022

‘Rogue collection’

Unite regional officer Simon O’Keeffe said: “Despite Unite’s best endeavours, strikes will intensify this week. This will ultimately result in further disruption for Coventry residents, but these strikes are entirely of the council’s own making. Rather than seeking to secure an agreement to end the dispute, the council is instead intent on wasting council taxpayers’ money on an alternative rogue collection service.

“Unite has become increasingly concerned that the council’s rogue collection service is both unlicensed and unsafe and Coventry council has been unable to answer legitimate concerns about the validity of the service,” O’Keeffe continued.

Council

Since the disruption began last month, Coventry city council erected ‘pop-up’ disposal bins ahead of strike, which was originally supposed to last 48 hours but has since escalated (see letsrecycle.com story).

On 27 January, the council announced that that it will work with private contractor Tom White Waste throughout February and March to provide fortnightly household residual waste collections.

In response to Unite, the council has insisted it “one of the highest paying local authorities in the West Midlands for Class II HGV drivers”.

The council says this means it is limited on what else it can offer, as it must be “rightly mindful of the duty it has to all of its 4,500-strong workforce and the possibility of future equal pay claims from other trade unions”.

In March 2020, the council acquired Tom White Waste for a deal rumoured to be worth around £14 million.

The venture was described by the city council as an “arm’s length commercial investment” (see letsrecycle.com story).

Strikes

Unions have been stepping up threats of refuse strikes in recent weeks, as they seek a better deal for staff who proved valuable during the pandemic.

Last month, the GMB Union told letsrecycle.com that more refuse strikes are likely in the coming weeks, as a shortage of drivers, increased work throughout the pandemic, and a rise in inflation have combined to cause a “perfect storm” (see letsrecycle.com story).