The head of the Unite union, Labour’s biggest donor, has threatened to completely pull funding for the party over an ongoing pay dispute involving bin lorry drivers in Coventry.
About 75 refuse workers started a two-month strike over pay at the start of February, after talks with Coventry’s Labour-run city council failed to achieve a resolution.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, said: “Let me be very clear – the remaining financial support of Labour party is now under review. Your behaviour and mistreatment of our members will not be accepted.”
The dispute has become increasingly heated in recent weeks, with both sides arguing over claims regarding drivers’ pay and independent arbitrator Acas being brought in to help negotiations.
The council has opened several temporary waste collection sites but was criticised by Unite for hiring agency bin lorry drivers to continue collections during walkouts, with Graham saying: “We have a so-called Labour council prepared to pay agency drivers to drive its bin lorries on more money than the union is asking for.”
The council said the move was “to ensure residents suffer as little as possible”.
Addressing striking workers in an online rally on Wednesday evening, Graham said: “Until this strike is settled, the remaining financial relationship with the Labour party is now under review.
“There will be no Labour politician in the Midlands or party office who will get one single penny from my members, or any practical support of any kind, while this strike is going ahead. Not one penny will pass from our coffers until you sort out this mess that you have created.
“No longer will my union accept being treated like dirt by those who have their hands in our wallets at election time. Act like Labour, and we will treat you like Labour.”
Asked about Graham’s comments, the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, said the party was “not going to be influenced by threats from anybody”.
“That’s a matter of principle for me. It’s not about the particulars of a dispute here or dispute there, the Labour party I lead is not prepared to be threatened by anyone. Period. Full stop,” he told the BBC on Thursday.
In December, Graham said she planned to cut political donations to the party and divert the money to union campaigns.
The striking workers in Coventry, who are Unite members, say they all hold an HGV licence but are paid at a rate below comparable rates of pay for HGV drivers in the region.
The council has disputed Unite’s numbers and insisted it is one of the highest paying local authorities in the West Midlands. It says the strikes are costing the council £1.8m and said there might be job losses as a result.
A spokesperson for Coventry city council said Unite’s claims that the council had released false information were “unfounded and untrue”.
They said: “However, we are not interested in a public war of words but remain committed to talks to resolve the ongoing dispute and provide a service to the residents we serve. We urge Unite to do the same and consider our offers to end the strike.
“The hourly wage for our bin drivers is between £11.50 and £14.38 depending on where drivers are on their pay grade. This makes us one of the highest paying in the West Midlands when comparing pay for bin lorry drivers.
“We therefore remain disappointed Unite has refused to suspend strike action or allow exemptions to provide a service for the most vulnerable residents of our city such as those in care homes.”