Coventry City Council calls for bins strikes to end
It follows a ruling by independent service ACAS
Coventry City Council has called on the Unite Union to call-off the ongoing bin lorry driver strike over pay.
It follows an independent arbitration service ACAS finding that the drivers should be paid a Grade 5 salary – which they are already paid.
ACAS looked at the process that came to the original decision and found that it had been “undertaken in a fair and open manner.”
The Council say they and Unite had agreed to be bound by the decision. Therefore, the Council is calling on the strike to be called off immediately.
Unite balloted their bin lorry driver members on two issues – a grade increase and Christmas working.
ACAS has ruled on the grade increase and an offer remains on the table for a £4,000, tax-free payment to buy-out a 1999 agreement that includes a number of issues such as Christmas week working and collecting side waste.
In a statement, a council spokesperson said;
'The Council remains open to dialogue with Unite and are willing to once again offer a previously rejected proposal to increase the pay of drivers at the bottom-end of the grade, so that no driver starts on less than £12.45 per hour.
'This is an increase from the original bottom of the scale of £11.50.
'However, the real victims in this dispute the Council has never wanted and has always tried to lawfully resolve, has been Coventry residents.
'The Council apologises for the inevitable disruption the strike has caused despite the mitigation measures put in place such as drop-off sites.
'It urges Unite to call off the strike and allow the bin lorry drivers to return to work, so it can once again provide a service all Coventry residents expect and deserve.'
Unite have said throughout the action that drivers aren't paid enough and have also been calling for changes to Christmas working hours.
They haven't yet commented on the ACAS ruling.