Sharon Graham addresses Coventry bin strike rally

Solidarity sisters and brothers!

I am humbled to stand with you today in Coventry. 

A city with a proud union history. 

I’m also privileged to be sharing a platform with 

Unite members in dispute. 

And particularly to stand with Pete Randle our shop steward, 

victimised and suspended 

by this Labour Council.

…………………………………………….

And I now speak directly  

to you Unite Labour councillors of Coventry 

and the council leader.  

Today I put you on notice – 

that you will today receive 

your suspension letters from Unite. 

You will no longer be able to hold office in Unite, 

or be part of our structures, 

while we investigate your behaviour – 

And rest assured, 

you won’t be getting your hands

on any of my members money 

for your elections in May!

Shame on you! 

You have absolutely no Labour principles I recognise;

This isn’t about left or right – it is basic trade union principles.

No one believes your lies, 

And I will not tolerate your attacks on these workers. 

The full weight of Unite is with them 

and we are not going away.

……………………………………………

Sisters and brothers –

let’s be clear what this dispute is about –

it’s about pay  – pure and simple. 

A rate for the job.

A fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. 

Workers are hurting! 

Families are hurting! 

Communities are hurting! 

And instead of recognising 

what these workers did through the pandemic  –

and come to the table and negotiate –

what has this Labour council done? 

Peddled lies and hatred 

about hard working men and women. 

Saying they earn £52,000 a year – a lie! 

Deliberately said to sow anger and division.

What about the council leader – Councillor Duggins – the elected leader of the Council. 

Where is he? 

Why is he not in the negotiations?

Why is he not doing the job he is paid for? 

Councillor Duggins  – you were elected by the people of Coventry. 

Stop hiding behind your curtain and get in the room and negotiate! 

This is your responsibility and this mess lies at your door. 

You and I know both know councillors can and should intervene. 

I’ve been in many negotiations with council leaders – some of them Tory!

What does that say about you! 

…………

The incompetence of this council shows they are no longer fit to govern. 

This Dispute has cost the taxpayer £2.9 million.  

It would only have taken £300,000 to solve it.

The same amount the council handed out to the retiring deputy CEO.

This council is paying strike breakers more than our members are asking for.

This clearly shows the workers are right. They are not being paid the right wage. 

………………………………

We have only just begun to open this council’s books to see what is really going on underneath. 

We will be knocking on doors.

We will be ensuring the residents of Coventry know exactly what you are doing with their money.

Of course, this dispute in Coventry is yet another example of bad employers lining up to make workers pay for the pandemic.

We saw it after the 2008 financial crash. 

The pain was not shared. 

Workers and communities paid the price. 

While others drank champagne. 

We can see companies who made millions in the pandemic left untouched.

Yet workers are being told to stop asking for pay rises! 

Politicians of all political colours are falling workers 

Labour is failing workers, 

Labour – where are you?

Where is your voice?

People are hurting. 

How far under to people have to go? 

Governments have failed. 

They are too far removed from everyday life. 

It’s time to take action ourselves.

It’s time to fight for ourselves 

and use our money to create the power

for workers to win.

It’s time for change.

It’s time to demand not ask.

It’s time to mobilise not lobby.

And it is time to organise.

………..

Friends, I will not accept Labour treating workers like this, riding on the coat tails of our movement. 

One hand in our pocket and the other up our back.

This struggle must be the spark for others.

A flame of resistance.

Let’s remember,

Trade unions weren’t born out of thin air.

They were forged by the working class.

In a cauldron of fire.

In the midst of deportations and the gallows.

Not in a meeting hall. 

But in the workplace.

And in our communities.

It’s time for the rebirth of trade unions.

We don’t have to accept what we are given.

And we don’t have to wait for the politicians.

…………………………………………………..

Here with our striking members, in this great city,

Whether it is 70 or 70,000 workers 

My response will always be the same.

Trade unions exist to fight for working people, 

to make sure they get their piece of the pie. 

That is our job. 

So let me repeat my message to Councillor Duggins and to Labour. 

Unite is here to fight for these workers. 

Make no mistake.

This is the start, not the end.

………………………………………

My members, will not be starved back to work.

Because I won’t let that happen.

This campaign won’t fade away.

Because our support will not stop.

Your lies and incompetence will be exposed.

I will make sure of that!

………………………………………………..

Coventry we stand with you

I stand with you

Thank you and solidarity!