Bin strike fears as city council looks to ‘fire and rehire’ waste collection staff

Coventry City Council is reportedly set to terminate the contracts of waste collection staff in order to end the practice of “task and finish”, which has led to equal pay claims from female members of staff.

The proposals would involve the firing and rehiring of 130 members of staff in the waste services team, according to the BBC.

“Task and finish” means that waste collection workers are able to finish their shifts as soon as their work is completed.

However, the condition has led to more than 200 equal pay claims from female members of council staff, who contend the “male-dominated” waste services team receives a benefit they do not.

Trade union Unite has described threats by the Labour run council to fire and rehire its frontline refuse workers as “abhorrent” and “entirely unnecessary”.

Unite lead officer Onay Kasab said: "Unite remains in talks with the council and it believes a fair resolution can be achieved but if the council is not prepared to listen then industrial action and ensuing disruption is inevitable."

A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “At a recent meeting of Labour group, councillors discussed how to best ensure that local people receive a best-in-class waste collection service.

“In order to ensure consistency of terms and conditions across the whole workforce and to ensure the Council continues to provide a waste collection service rather than contracting out, elected members were presented with the detail of how working practise in this area could be modernised.

“The aim now is to have a report with recommendations ready for consideration by cabinet and council later this year. If approved this would mean that bin collections in the city would remain a Council service but any proposed changes will be subject to full consultation with trade unions and employees as appropriate.”

Lottie Winson