Unite lodges tribunal claim against Coventry City Council after its local official is suspended during a refuse driver dispute

The union said Coventry City Council was victimising Pete Randle for his trade union activities. He is employed by the local authority and is a Unite rep.

Coventry City Council
Author: Iona Stewart-RichardsonPublished 7th Apr 2022

Unite has lodged an employment tribunal claim against the Labour-controlled council in Coventry on behalf of one of its local officials who was suspended during a bitter dispute involving refuse collector drivers.

The union said Coventry City Council was victimising Pete Randle for his trade union activities. He is employed by the local authority and is a Unite rep.

Industrial action began early this year and 70 HGV drivers have been on all-out strike since January in a dispute over low pay.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the council's charges were "groundless" and called for them to be dropped, adding: "Unite will not allow Pete to be victimised for carrying out his trade union duties on behalf of members. We have now lodged a claim at the employment tribunal on Pete's behalf.

"Councillors in Coventry need to put a stop to these attacks, step up and resolve this dispute.

"Unite is standing firm and will continue to do whatever is necessary in defence of our rep and our members' claim for fair pay."

A number of Coventry councillors who are in Unite have been suspended from membership over the dispute.