Trade unions in Coventry are following up last night’s election disaster for Labour with a protest against new pay and conditions for council staff.

They are holding a demonstration outside the council house before all the Labour councillors get together to consider their future.

The demonstrators will lobby the councillors before they carry out the election for the position of Leader and Deputy Leader tonight at 5pm.

Three contenders are believed be vying for the position of leader: current occupant John Fletcher, his deputy Arthur Waugh and Nick Nolan.

More than one hundred protestors gathered to heckle councillors about the deal before last month’s full council meeting.

The Joint Trades Unions Action Committee say thousands of workers will see their salaries cut in the Single Status deal.

Ninety-five per cent of those polled in a recent ballot voted against the deal.

A spokesperson said:

“We are staging this protest in the hope that the new leaders will listen to their workforce and let common sense prevail.”