Coventry City Council is on collision course with the Unite trade union this month, over controversial proposals to end ‘task and finish’ contracts among waste staff.
In recent months, Coventry has been slapped with pay claims, led by the GMB trade union representing lower-paid female staff. Contracts for predominantly male staff across Coventry’s waste services ensure bin collectors, for example, can go home once their daily tasks are complete. But the GMB has warned that largely female staff in roles of similar value do not enjoy such benefits.
Fearing mass equal pay claims that recently struck neighbouring Birmingham City Council, Coventry’s senior officers have warned ending task and finish is non-negotiable. Proposals to effectively fire up to 130 waste staff and rehire them on new contracts could go before Coventry’s council this month.
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