GMB has claimed Coventry City Council is ‘forcing workers to the breadline’ after a poll said almost one-fifth of the union’s members working for the authority said they or someone in their household had needed to turn to food banks.
The union also said the council needed to take ‘urgent action’ to resolve pay discrimination at the authority.
GMB claimed the poll of hundreds of council workers revealed cost of living pressures were being heightened by the council’s delays in resolving pay discrimination.
In December, GMB Union members began a dispute with the city council after expressing ‘significant concerns’ about the valuing and payment of roles at the authority.
The poll said 98 per cent of GMB council workers felt worse off than they did this time last year and all of them felt the authority needed to do more to end pay discrimination.
Michelle McCrossen, GMB Organiser, said: “These figures are a shocking reminder that delay in ending pay discrimination in Coventry is not an option.
“Behind each statistic is a worker struggling under the dual pressures of pay discrimination and a cost of living crisis.
“Our members reported pay discrimination is fuelling an already difficult situation, with many telling us they are unable to make ends meet week on week and have difficulties paying their rent, mortgages, and household bills.
“They also told us that ending pay discrimination would mean they could afford to send a child to university, get on the housing ladder or even just buy decent food for their families.
“Council top brass might make warm words about settling historical claims and ending the discrimination, but the fact is that with each passing day women workers are seeing their wages stolen.”
A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to ensuring fairness for all Council employees.
“We are absolutely aware of how tough the economic conditions are for some people right now. That’s why we are supporting not only residents across the city – but also some of our own employees – through the cost of living crisis.
“We are committed to providing good terms and conditions for all our employees and work with trade union colleagues so that these are equitable and fair.”
