More than 500 workers at Shelter will be striking for two weeks next month over an ongoing pay dispute.
Some 85% of Shelter workers balloted by workers union Unite voted in favour of the industrial action, which will take place on Monday 5 December to Sunday 18 December.
The charity said some of its services and shops will be impacted when industrial action takes place, but it vowed to “make every effort during this very busy time of year to continue to serve those most in need of our help”.
Unite, meanwhile, has accused the charity of being “arrogant and high-handed” in its negotiations and said some of its staff were struggling to pay rent.
Shelter: ‘This is not the outcome we wanted’
Shelter gave all staff a 3% pay increase this April, as well as a one-off payment of £1,500 paid in instalments due to the cost-of-living crisis.
The homelessness charity argues that this payment means non-management staff will effectively receive a pay increase of between 8% and 12.3%.
But Unite has called this a “real terms pay cut on its staff” that will “leave pay rates at unacceptably low levels” that fail to take inflation into account.
Tim Gutteridge, director of finance and strategy enablement at Shelter, said: “Industrial action is not the outcome we wanted, but we fully respect people’s right to strike. Some of our services and shops will be impacted when industrial action takes place, but we will make every effort during this very busy time of year to continue to serve those most in need of our help.
“Regrettably the cost-of-living crisis is impacting both our colleagues and operational costs, and we are doing what we can to navigate these challenging economic times. This year, we gave all staff a 3% consolidated pay increase, as well as a one-off payment of £1,500. As a result, non-management staff are receiving an increase this year of between 8% and 12.3%.
“Shelter also continues to be a Real Living Wage employer, and we will be making the Real Living Wage Foundation’s adjustment of 10.1% earlier than required, meaning those colleagues receiving the Real Living Wage will benefit sooner from this increase to their consolidated pay.
“Our ambition remains trying to support colleagues through this difficult period, while being able to deliver our frontline services and campaign work as the housing emergency worsens.”
Shelter employee: ‘I don't feel my employer cares about me’
Unite regional officer Peter Storey said the charity had caused the pay dispute “through the arrogant and high-handed manner in which it has treated its loyal workers”.
According to union, some Shelter workers have reported struggling to pay their rent.
One member of Shelter staff quoted by the union said: “At the very base level, absolute bare minimum, those working for a housing charity shouldn't be experiencing housing insecurity as a result of being unable to pay rent.”
Another worker commented: “I really care about the work and I think it's recognised that I work hard - but I don't feel right now my employer cares about me. I'm a single parent. I'm now in overdraft every month, I go around switching my lights off, I have turned my boiler down, I get stressed when the kids school wants me to pay for another school trip. The best acknowledgement my employer can give me for all my hard work is decent pay.”
Related articles
