Action For Children charity workers vote for strikes in pay row

Workers at the charity Action For Children have voted in favour of strikes in a row over pay.

Members of Unite backed walkouts by 77%, and other forms of industrial action by a larger margin.

The union urged the charity to resolve the long-running pay dispute through the conciliation service Acas.

Unite said the charity had imposed a 1% pay award for 2015/16 as part of a “deeply divisive” offer which sees 40% of the workforce excluded from a cost of living increase.

National officer Sally Kosky said: “Senior executives at Action For Children cannot continue to ignore the growing anger among its workforce. Many dedicated workers at the charity have seen their wages virtually frozen for the last five years, while the number of senior managers earning over £70,000 has gone up to 21.

“Staff helping vulnerable families up and down the country have grown increasingly frustrated with management’s high handed approach. It does nothing for morale and nothing to recognise the invaluable contribution they make day in day out.

“We would urge Action For Children’s management to recognise the strength of feeling and drop its refusal to Acas talks, so that we can hammer out a pay deal that properly rewards the hard work of its loyal workforce.”

Members of Unison have also voted in a strike ballot, but the result has not yet been released.

Sir Tony Hawkhead, chief executive at Action For Children, said: “The role that trade unions represent in the work place is highly regarded by Action For Children. Throughout the whole extended process during which we have been in discussions with the unions, we have made every effort to reach an agreement.

“In the current operating climate, Action For Children has considered the various affordable possibilities available to it.

“The Board and senior management agreed that the best way forward, with the limited budget available, was to use it for those members of staff who would otherwise receive almost nothing. Other staff would still receive their standard increment as they progress within their salary band.”

Members of Unison voted by similar margins for strikes and other forms of industrial action.

General secretary Dave Prentis (pictured) said: “Today’s decision will have been a very difficult one for workers who are committed to their jobs and the people they care for. It demonstrates the strength of feeling among them. We are determined to resolve this dispute – strike action should be an absolute last resort.

“Senior managers at Action For Children have acted in a high-handed way by imposing a pay settlement that excludes many staff. Charity workers are dedicated to looking after children and families, and want their employer to see sense and start to listen.”

Sir Tony said: “In an organisation which has a workforce of nearly 5,000, there are around 1,100 trade union members, of which only a quarter of members voted. We are saddened by the ballot result, which in real terms means that only 5% of staff backed industrial action.

“However, we respect the right of trade union members who choose industrial action. Our top priority is to ensure this has the minimum disruption to our frontline services. Action For Children exists to help the country’s most disadvantaged children and families. We have been working closely with operational managers to put in place contingency plans with the aim of maintaining business as usual for people who depend on our services.”    

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