Unite members at St Mungo's begin 'unprecedented' indefinite strike
Staff in Bournemouth will be walking out over a 'shocking dereliction of duty' to the homeless
Bosses at a homeless charity with a base in Bournemouth - St Mungo's - have been called 'callous' by Unite, whose members are staging an indefinite strike.
The union's called the walkout - over the 'indifference' of management about the 'corporatisation of the charity sector' - as 'unprecedented' after balloting 500 workers in Southern England over their rate of pay.
The charity's chief executive, Emma Haddad, called the news 'unexpected' but are still working to find a solution.
From today (June 27th), workers will be walking out indefinitely, accusing management of a 'shocking' dereliction of duty towards the homeless and the charity’s own staff.
This decision has been provoked because of pay - with the Unite Union saying, after tax and deductions, frontline workers take home less than £20,000 a year.
Many of the workers are claimed to live in fear themselves after being unable to pay their rent or mortgage.
"Poverty wages"
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The Charity’s staff do not take indefinite strike action lightly but they face a desperate situation - they need St Mungo’s to listen and act.
“The indifference of the management to their own staff smacks of the corporatisation of the charity sector. It’s Corporate Britain plc arriving in the charity sector. St Mungo's have executives on well over £100,000 a year and the same people insist their workers should exist on poverty wages with actual wage cuts."
The month-long strike ended yesterday.
Unite balloted over 500 workers across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading, with membership of the union growing to 800 since the dispute began.
Unite regional officer, Steve O’Donnell said: “St Mungo’s workers are sending a clear message to the Board. Management has lost control. Their failure to take heed of the strength of feeling amongst staff is the reason for this indefinite strike.
“It’s time to save St Mungo’s reputation and enter into genuine constructive negotiations to end this dispute.”
"It was unexpected"
The charity have responded to the news, which has been described as 'unexpected' - but bosses are working to resolve the dispute.
Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said: “It was unexpected to hear that Unite has extended its period of strike action indefinitely.
“We are in the middle of discussions aimed at finding a solution and had a constructive meeting with Unite representatives on 12 June.
“Bringing an end to this unprecedented period of industrial action remains our key priority, so we can all focus on working together to support people at risk of, or recovering from, homelessness.”
Unite the Union has a mandate for strike action until September 30.