Workers at black cab plant to strike over pay

The plant which makes electric taxis opened in 2017 and employs about 400 workers, said LEVC

About 100 workers at a black cab manufacturer are set to strike in a pay dispute, a union has said.

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

The firm, which has made thousands of London's electric licensed taxis, is owned by Geely Holding.

LEVC said it had since made a "competitive updated offer" amounting to an equivalent total of a 5.9% pay rise" from an earlier offer of 5.2%, adding it was committed to finding a satisfactory solution for both parties.

'Minimise impact'

Workers, who have seen "wages fall by 19.9% in real terms" since 2016, will take an initial day of action on Thursday, followed by an overtime ban, the union added. added.

Further strike dates are expected to be called if the dispute is not resolved.

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

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

LEVC, which said the Ansty plant had about 400 employees, said it was disappointed Unite members had voted for industrial action following pay negotiations and had updated its pay offer.

"Against the context of external challenges and significant financial pressures, LEVC has made a competitive updated offer, amounting to an equivalent total of 5.9% pay rise in 2024 for our operators," its statement said.

“We are committed to reaching a satisfactory solution for both parties.

"Should industrial action take place we have put in several measures to ensure that the impact, if any, upon our production schedule and ultimately our customers will be minimal.”