Back Coventry’s Bin Workers | Unite WIN

Unite WIN | Six month continuous strike action ends in victory for Coventry bin drivers

The bin dispute which began in January has now ended with a pay rise for the drivers worth up to 12.9 per cent, which is worth an estimated £3,600 per year in their pay packets. The deal also includes Christmas bonuses worth some £4,000, and disciplinary charges against Unite shop steward Pete Randle have been dropped. Read the full story - Six month continuous strike action ends in victory for Coventry bin drivers

On strike for pay justice!

Watch Unite general secretary Sharon Graham's full speech at the Coventry bin strike rally on 26 March 2022.

Coventry HGV refuse drivers have been on an all-out strike since 31 January 2022 in a dispute over low pay. The workers’ basic rate of pay begins at just £22,183 per annum, which is far below the pay rates of neighbouring councils and that of the hired agency drivers the council is using to break the strike. Over £2.8 million has been wasted by the council in their bid to break the strike. The fact is it would take just £300k to resolve. We urge Coventry city council to #PayTheRate and reinstate Unite Lead Rep Pete Randle with immediate effect.

+++ Please donate to the strike fund +++ Coventry's bin workers are out on strike. Please send solidarity and donate to the strike fund in order to help the strikers not be starved back to work.

Unite WM/7116 Coventry Local Government Branch
Account number: 2030 2665
Sort code: 608 301

Account details for the dispute fund are above – all donations greatly appreciated. +++ Please donate to the strike fund +++

Thanks to all that came on Tuesday 3 May - #CovBinStrike rally and march

Thanks to everyone that came to the rally & march through Coventry on Tuesday 3 May. Coventry bin strike – demanding fairness, dignity and respect! Coventry council is still refusing the reasonable pay demands of striking workers in Coventry who earn a basic rate of just £22,183. Unite members on strike are demanding to be paid the market rate, a demand that residents in Coventry support according to a recent poll. Refuse vehicle drivers in Birmingham earn up to £5,500 more than those in Coventry, it's time for Coventry council to pay the rate.

Act now – support the strike

Share the facts – Coventry council is lying about the strike and our members. For the real facts download and share the flyer: Stop your trash talk.

Reinstate suspended Unite lead rep Pete Randle - Sign the Megaphone petition calling on the council to reverse its immoral decision to suspend Unite lead rep Pete Randle.
Solidarity matters – it’s tough being on a picket line. Your messages of support and solidarity make a real difference. Please follow the strike on social media and share #CovBinStrike.

Pay the rate! Solidarity rally

Watch the following key speeches from the rally held in Coventry town centre on Saturday 26 March 2022.


Sharon speaks to the rally (above) Unite general secretary Sharon Graham's full speech at the Coventry bin strike rally.	Hear from Haydn (above) Hear Haydn on pay and living in a society where workers are in receipt of working benefits and can't earn enough to survive so they need to use food banks.

Teresa talks (above) Teresa a HGV driver in Coventry speaks out about rising costs of bills and need for a fair wage	Tracy tells it as it is (above) “I had to sit down with my husband and absolutely categorically support that mission” - A powerful speech from Tracy, a strikers wife

Hear from the workers

Strike action was a last resort. It was only after nearly a year of negotiations to secure a fair wage going nowhere, that our members voted to strike. This is why.

Watch more videos:

Why are you on strike?
What do you like about your job?

Strikes intensify

Strikes have intensified from Monday 31 January, with workers taking ‘all-out’ strike action from Monday to Friday each week. The strikes are scheduled to continue until Wednesday 23 March. An overtime ban is also in place.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Coventry council has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations, yet has still failed to table any offer to resolve the industrial action. The council’s failure to negotiate has left Unite with no alternative but to escalate the strike action.”

The failure of Coventry council to tackle low pay rates for its refuse collection drivers has resulted in strike action over pay and working conditions. The drivers who must hold a HGV licence, are paid as little as £22,000 per annum.

“Why not pay the rate for the job and end the strike rather than paying out even more taxpayers’ money which won’t resolve the current stalemate?” - Read the full story here ➡️ Agency worker recruitment by Coventry council EXPOSED in bin dispute - 27 January 2022

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All the workers want is a fair day's wage

Stop spreading lies about wages

Find out more by following the #CovBinStrike on social ⬇

Tweet #unitewestmids

The message is clear, back Anthony, and back Coventry's bin drivers on #CovBinStrike