More than 450 workers from homelessness charity Shelter are being balloted for strike action after receiving what Unite the Union has called an “insulting” pay offer.
Shelter gave staff a 3% consolidated pay increase this April alongside a one-off payment of £1,500 paid in instalments in response to the cost-of-living crisis.
The charity argues that the one-off payment means non-management staff will effectively receive a pay increase of between 8% and 12.3%.
Balloting for the industrial action began last week and will conclude on 4 November. The result of the ballot will dictate if the strike will go ahead.
Unite said it is balloting 450 staff members at the charity. According to its latest annual accounts, Shelter had 1,335 staff overall.
Unite: ‘Dispute of the charity’s own making’
Unite regional officer, Peter Storey, said: “Unite’s members are balloting for industrial action as a last resort but this imposed pay deal is insulting. Workers have explored every possible avenue but Shelter’s management has repeatedly blocked them and refused to enter into negotiations.
“Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to the vital services that Shelter operates but this dispute is entirely of the charity’s own making.”
Shelter’s latest filed accounts record an income of £72m against an expenditure of £71.6m for the financial year ending March 2021.
Staff costs sat at £47,156,000 for the financial year which accounted for 64% of its expenditure.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “3% on pay for Shelter’s workers when real living costs run at more than four times that rate is just unacceptable.
“Our members, who are dedicated to assisting vulnerable people, are now finding it impossible to keep their own heads above water.
“Shelter can afford to pay a fair pay increase but it is choosing not to. Unite will give its members at the charity its total support.”
Shelter: ‘We hope this action can be averted’
Shelter is an accredited real living wage (RLW) employer, but the RLW Foundation recently increased its wages by 10% in line with the rising cost of living.
A spokesperson from the charity said Shelter is working to implement the latest increase in wages as soon as possible, and “well in advance of the May 2023 deadline” to remain RLW accredited.
Tim Gutteridge, director of finance and strategy enablement at Shelter, said: “Unite have informed us that they are balloting their members for industrial action. While we hope that this action can be averted, we respect people’s right to strike, and will remain in regular contact with the union.
“We recognise the contribution made by all of our colleagues in our shared mission of ending the housing emergency. Our aim remains meeting the needs of our colleagues, while also ensuring we can deliver our frontline services and campaign work for the people we exist to serve, during these challenging and uncertain times.”
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