London-based staff at Hestia are set to strike next week for the first time in the support service charity’s 50-year history.
According to workers union Unite, 13 of Hestia’s more than 20 staff will strike on 12 and 13 December after the charity’s management refused to negotiate with it over a cost-of-living pay increase and adequate travel expenses for staff.
Hestia said it has formally recognised a different union, Unison, for collective bargaining rights, which it would work with instead on creating “the best working environment possible” for its employees.
Charity recognises different union
Hestia has an income of around £37m and operates a referral service in Hounslow in London, and provides support for people ranging from mental health support, addiction, immigration and language barrier support.
A spokesperson for the charity said it is “sad” that nine staff at its Hounslow service voted to strike, “despite the positive feedback we have received from them on the steps we have taken to respond to their consultation feedback”.
They added: “We will of course do everything we can to ensure that any disruption for our service users is minimised. We will also continue to work alongside our staff to ensure we are doing everything possible to make this vital service as successful as it can be.
“As a charity, we cannot deliver support to those who need us without our talented and dedicated staff. To strengthen our engagement with employees, we have formally recognised Unison for collective bargaining rights, and we will continue to work with them alongside our existing employee forum to create the best working environment possible for Hestia employees.”
Union: ‘Hestia running service into the ground’
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Hestia management are running this important service into the ground. They’re ignoring dangerous understaffing and low pay.
“They must acknowledge this now and have meaningful negotiations with the union. These workers have Unite’s full support.”
The union also claimed bosses threatened Unite members with disciplinary action if they discuss pay with colleagues during work.
Steve O’Donnell, Unite regional officer, said: “Hestia faces its first strike in 50 years. Workers are struggling to make ends meet and Hestia has a recruitment and retention crisis because of poor pay and conditions. Excessive workloads have reached dangerous levels and still bosses refuse to engage with the union. So management must address these problems urgently or the strike goes ahead.”
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