Workers at Coventry black cab factory to strike over pay

Around 100 workers at a black taxi maker are set to strike in a pay dispute, a union has said.

The Unite union said its members at the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) in Ansty Park, Coventry, rejected a 3.5% pay rise and a one-off payment of £400 for those in lower grades.

The firm, which has manufactured thousands of London-licensed electric taxis, is owned by Geely Holding.

LEVC said it had made a “competitive offer, totaling a total pay increase of 5.2%” in 2024 and committed to finding a mutually satisfactory solution.

The workers, who have seen “wages fall by 19.9% ​​in real terms” since 2016, will take a first day of action on Thursday, followed by a ban on overtime, the union added. added.

If the dispute is not resolved, further strike dates are expected to be announced.

Unite said the pay offer was a “real terms pay cut” as the real rate of inflation (RPI) was 4.9% when the rise was due to be implemented in January.

It followed “years of below-inflation pay rises” while Geely made profits of £584m last year, the union said.

“This is a company that brings in billions but has attacked the wages of Coventry workers year after year,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

“Geeley can absolutely afford to offer a better salary offer to our members. Our LEVC members in Coventry have the full support of their union in their strike for a fair pay rise.”

The LEVC said it was disappointed that Unite members had voted for industrial action following wage negotiations with the firm.

“In the context of external challenges and significant financial pressures, LEVC has made a competitive offer, totaling a 5.2% salary increase in 2024,” its statement said.

“We are committed to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution.

“Should industrial action take place, we will put a number of measures in place to minimize the impact of any potential industrial action on our production schedule and ultimately our customers.”