COVENTRY councillors must reinstate a Unite rep suspended during the city’s bin strikes, union activists demanded today as they handed in an 11,000-strong petition calling for the move. 

The industrial union slammed the Labour-run local authority’s “outrageous decision to escalate tensions with Unite” by attacking shop steward Peter Randle on “bogus charges.”

He could now be dismissed but Unite pledged its “unwavering support” for Mr Randle, saying that he had already faced “abuse and victimisation” amid the bitter dispute over low pay.

The council has attempted to undermine the industrial action, which began in late January when 70 HGV refuse drivers voted for walkouts, by “squandering millions” on hiring agency workers, Unite charges. 

Local authority leader George Duggins and his councillors have also refused to attend meetings with Unite reps, the union says. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, who has threatened to withdraw Unite’s funding to Labour over the stand-off, slammed the council’s behaviour as “completely unacceptable.”

The local authority must “reinstate our shop steward immediately and pay drivers the rate for the job,” she said. 

“The leaders of Coventry Council appears to be hell-bent on fabricating any excuse not to negotiate while inflaming tensions by attacking our rep.

“Duggins needs to understand that Unite will be unwavering in our support for Pete and for the drivers who just want to be paid the market rate for the job.”

A solidarity demo, set to be addressed by Ms Graham as well as striking workers and figures from the TUC and Coventry Trades Council, is scheduled to take place in the city this Saturday.

The council, which was contacted for comment, has previously claimed that its pay rates are among the highest in the West Midlands.