You may or may not have heard about it, but there’s a big story from within the world of waste in Coventry this month, as drivers and the local council come to loggerheads in a disagreement about pay. This Coventry bin strike issue looks to be rumbling on, and now the waste team, in conjunction with their union Unite, have started strike action. With, it seems, plenty more to follow.
Why are Coventry Bin Drivers Striking?
The strike comes from the issue of pay. And namely, the drivers and their union claim that they aren’t being paid enough. Details on amounts are naturally sparse, but while the council claim drivers are paid on average £34,000, the Union disagrees. They state that those figures include overtime of up to 50 hours a week, and that the drivers actually start on a salary of £22,000.
How Might the Coventry Bin Strike Impact my Business?
If your business is based in Coventry and you get your waste collected by the council service, then your service may be disrupted. The council are stating that they plan to provide emergency collections for general waste only as of next week (Monday 17th January) but this a) will be subject to timings and b) doesn’t include recycling. So, if your business – as many will – recycles in high quantities, then you may be in a bit of trouble.
When is the Coventry Bin Drivers Strike Action Taking Place?
This round of action started on 11th January and finishes on 14th, tomorrow. However, that is only the first round of action for the drivers and their union, Unite. Both parties have announced action that continues up until March. The dates for each strike are below:
- Tuesday, January 11 to Friday, January 14
- January 18, 21, 26 and 28
- February 2, 4, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 23 and 25
- March 2, 5, 9, 11, 16, 19 and 23
What do I do about the Strike?
It is likely that the Coventry bin strike will affect your business. The point remains that the council may not be able to collect bins as frequently or as consistently. Clearly, they will have less resources. The strike action is planned for the next 10 weeks, and your waste schedule could be hugely impacted.
The above dates are the days that are scheduled for action. If no compromise is found, it is highly likely that strike action will continue into April and May, meaning that your waste routine will be further disrupted. That’s without considering sharp waste, medical waste or other niche waste services.
Here at Direct365, we are a reliable service with costs that are frequently cheaper than other services on the market. Thousands of other businesses choose Direct365 for their waste management needs. Give us a call to discuss how we can help in the wake of the Coventry bin strike.