Staff at housing charity plan three-day walkout over ‘derisory’ pay offer

Staff at the housing charity Shelter are to stage a three-day strike over a “derisory” pay offer.

Members of Unite will walk out on December 11, with the union warning the organisation’s ability to offer advice and support in the run-up to Christmas will be “seriously affected”.

Unite said Shelter had offered a 1% pay rise plus a further, non-consolidated, one off payment of 1%.

The union has been seeking a 3.5% rise or a flat rate £1,100 increase.

Unite officer Peter Storey said: “Unite’s members at Shelter have faced a year-on-year pay squeeze since the beginning of the decade and this year’s derisory pay offer was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.

“It is entirely unfair that the wages of Shelter workers have been declining at the same time that the charity’s reserves have been increasing.”

Shelter director Greg Beales said: “We are really disappointed that Unite have taken this decision to take industrial action over the charity’s 2% pay offer.

“It’s a critical time of year for those who are homeless and who depend on our services and we are hoping that planned talks will reach a successful outcome.

“Of course, we respect the right of those who choose to strike and we will be doing everything we can to protect the services we know people will be relying on this winter.”

Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2018, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Shelter.