Coventry council rejects 'unacceptable' offer from bin drivers preparing to strike this ChristmasCoventry City Council have rejected 'not acceptable' plans which would have seen striking bin drivers partially return to work on strike days after bin lorry drivers balloted for industrial action last week.
Coventry's bin drivers who are members of union Unite voted to strike last Monday and put a proposal forward to Coventry which would see them return partially to work on strike days.
The proposal, which was rejected by Coventry City Council, would have seen drivers work for one hour and strike the next, before returning to the depot to carry out standard safety and COVID-19 checks before leaving the site for industrial action.
The council say that this meant that crews would hardly be on the road during those days but would allow drivers to receive half a day's pay.
Unite says the city council’s refusal to increase pay rates is in stark contrast to other local authorities who are keen to retain their refuse collection drivers and have sought to prevent them from being poached by employers offering higher pay, by increasing rates or paying retention payments.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “A 98 per cent vote in favour of industrial action shows the bin lorry drivers are fed up with low rates of pay. Especially when they see what they could earn elsewhere nowadays.
"The council can resolve this dispute if it wants to. It is not of our making.”
A council spokesperson said: "On Tuesday, January 4 when drivers will be working again, priority will be given to the vulnerable and clearing assisted bin collections as well as bins in flats which can pose a fire risk.
"On Friday, January 7 all household waste (green lidded bins) will collected from Friday properties regardless of whether or this is your scheduled collection day for household waste.
"On Tuesday, January 18 all household waste (green lidded bins) will be collected from Tuesday properties regardless of whether or not this is your scheduled collection day for household waste.
"Similarly, on Wednesday, January 19 all household waste (green lidded bins) will be collected from Wednesday properties regardless of whether or not this is your scheduled collection day for household waste, with the same happening on Thursday, January 20.
"Collections, as things stand, will return to normal on Friday, January 22, 2022."