Charity Workers Vote To Strike Over Pay

Hundreds of St Mungo’s staff will walk out from 24 April to 21 May, reports Third Sector News.

Hundreds of homelessness charity workers whose union says are “at the end of their tether” will strike for four weeks starting later this month. The union Unite said “astonishing management indifference” at St Mungo’s was to blame for the result of a ballot, which continues a pay dispute that goes back to 2021. A St Mungo’s spokesperson said the charity “respected” workers’ right to vote and it would “continue to work with Unite” to avoid the industrial action from 24 April to 21 May.

Unite balloted more than 500 workers across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading – with 378 supporting strikes. Unite said that, since 2013, the average pay of St Mungo’s chief executives had risen by 77 per cent – up from £107,000 to more than £189,000 – while “in stark contrast, over a similar time frame, the real value of the wages of St Mungo’s workers, many of whom work on the streets helping the homeless, has plummeted by 25 per cent. A frontline worker earns around £26,000.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “St Mungo’s workers are dedicated to helping the homeless but they can’t afford to pay their own rent. The workers are at the end of their tether. It’s astonishing management indifference that’s driven them to strike action.” In 2021, a 1.75 per cent increase was offered to staff at the charity. Unite has asked for a 10 per cent backdated pay increase, according to St Mungo’s, which said it could not afford the figure. It said it had introduced a pay rise of £1,925 in 2022/23 and a £700 cost-of-living payment for most staff.

A spokesperson for St Mungo’s said: “We are disappointed by the result of the ballot but we do, of course, respect the decision of Unite members to take industrial action over the nationally-agreed pay settlement for 2021/22. St Mungo’s remains committed to continuing to work with Unite and doing all we can to avoid strike action.” In terms of services during the walk-out, they said: “A strike would naturally cause disruption to our services but we have detailed contingency plans in place which will be implemented as needed. Our focus is on ensuring that we will be able to continue to run our vital services as safely as possible and on the wellbeing of our clients and colleagues during this unsettling time.”