Legal win in battle for women only refuges for homeless women
Significant cuts
We welcome the success of the legal challenge to Camden Council’s practice of accommodating homeless women fleeing abuse in shared hostels with men. The Unite housing workers branch supported PI
Goodlord: Striking for the London Living Wage
Living Wage Foundation urged to end Goodlord accreditation over ‘brutal’ London pay cuts as indefinite strikes begin
Housing branch members have succeeded in winning the London Living Wage from VIEW
Unite opposes No jab, no job’ contracts
“The No Jab, No Job narrative is a disgraceful attempt to create a divisive narrative around workers and the vaccine”
Unite and other trade unions have urged the government to rule out ‘no jab, no job
Worker dies following accident at Clarion site
Gentle giant
A construction worker has died after an accident at a development site owned by the UK’s largest housing association, Clarion. Unite sends condolences to his friends, colleagues and loved ones.
London Living Wage win for Unite at Hestia
Determined stance
Unite at Hestia has chalked up a memorable victory by securing the London Living Wage for all employees. Hestia who had originally only offered to pay the 8 members listed on the griev
Time to talk about housing association pay says Inman
Incentivised by low pay and insecurity
“We need to avoid the conceit that seems to operate in some parts of the economy where chief executives, executives etc need to be incentivised by higher and higher pay and
Sian Berry supports Clarion Housing staff call for safety
London Assembley member Sian Berry calls on Clarion Housing to move to essential repairs only
“As the largest housing association in the country, I hope you will join the majority of other housing associations, c
Housing employers and domestic violence
80% increase
All reports point to an alarming increase in Domestic Violence during the pandemic. Over 80,000 phone calls were made to the National Domestic Abuse hotline in the first three months of lockdown last year.
Hestia paying less than London Living Wage
Staff at Hestia tired and frustrated as many continue to be paid less than the London Living Wage
During the pandemic more and more people are joining Unite housing workers to defend their safety and b
Unite: More concerns regarding needless Covid risk from routine
Portsmouth council accused of exposing tenants and workers to Covid-19
Portsmouth council has been accused of needlessly exposing its council housing tenants and outsourced workers to potential exposure to Covid-19.
COVID: More housing employers move to essential repairs only
95% support for industrial action
Following representations from Unite members Shepherds Bush Housing Association has agreed to move to a policy of carrying out only essential repairs. Unite welcomes this responsible m
Grenfell: Inquiry is slowly revealing scandal
“Almost everyone” affected by safety crisis.
Watching the Grenfell inquiry has been an agonising process for the survivors and bereaved. But it has become clear that fire safety problems are much wider tha
Clarion: campaign to stop non essential repairs risk
Resident support
Repairs workers at Clarion Housing Association are demanding that Clarion reverse their disastrous policy of continuing with non-urgent repairs during the lockdown. Over 200 Clarion workers VIEW | DOWNLOAD
Impasse as Clarion management dig heals in on Covid safety
Impasse as housing association presses ahead with routine repairs, despite Covid-19 fears
Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest housing association, is still continuing to insist on pushing ahead with routine r
BAEM workers 26 times harder hit by Covid-19 employment crisis
Pandemic 'holding up irror to discrimination'
Black and Asian ethnic minority (BAEM) workers have been 26 times harder hit by the employment crisis precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic than their white counter
COVID19: Clarion Housing presses ahead with routine repairs
Calling for essential repairs only
Clarion Housing Group, one of the UK’s largest social landlords, has been pushing ahead with routine repairs at its properties, despite some residents being Covid-19 positive, U
Put a roof over people’s heads
Unite urges Jenrick to further extend ban on evictions for those renting their homes
The UK has some appalling housing inequalities. Overcrowded and unfit accommodation is too common. Millions of people are struggling
Unite calls for eviction ban extension
Jenrick urged to follow Scotland’s footsteps and extend ban on evictions for renters
Thousands of renters are only days away from homelessness unless the government extends the ban on evictions due to end on Mon
New Guide and Health & Safety Meeting - Lockdown 2021
The new year has brought a new set of restrictions as the country entered another national lockdown.
Emergency Branch Meeting
Hestia workers paid under London Living Wage
“We remain committed to paying the London Living Wage for all staff whilst recognising the challenges that the current commissioning climate has on this and in 2018-19 we were able to offer the first increase in basic salaries for staff in over 10 years.” - Hestia, Consolidate
A time like no other, a union like no other
Unite General Secretary Len McCluskey wishes members a happy new year and pledges that. "your union will fight with every bone in its body to make sure that working people do not pay for this crisis."
Front foot
Unite calls for pay rise for NHS workers £3,000-a-year or 15%
Decade of pay austerity
Boris Johnson has been urged to open the government’s wallet and give NHS staff a substantial pay rise to make up for a decade of pay austerity and in recognition of their role in the continuing batt
Housing association fined: workers suffer serious illness
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
Onward housing association has been fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,293.10 following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive. Workers developed
The forgotten key workers #MigrantWorkers
Support our charter
Homeless migrant workers are threatened with deportation under new legislation – we are calling for local authorities and homelessness agencies to take a stand against this. See our charter ag
Stop homeless deportations - support the charter
Thousands vulnerable
Changes to Immigration rules mean that rough sleeping is now grounds for refusal or cancellation of permission to stay in the UK. This will render thousands of homeless migrants vulnerable to remov
Unite Briefing: Impact of #COVID19 on women
Unequal
The impact of COVID-19 has been unequal and Unite workplace reps have been on the front line.
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Covid-19 construction guide
Unite has launched a comprehensive construction guide to help ensure the safety of construction workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Important guide
Christmas redundancy shock at L&Q housing association
Profitable
Workers at highly profitable housing association L&Q were shocked to be told of major restructuring and the threat of large-scale redundancies yesterday.
In recent months they
Greenwich council housing workers threaten strike
£20,000 wages’ axe for Greenwich housing repair staff threatens strike action
Greenwich housing repairs could be seriously disrupted as more than 120 workers threaten to strike in the new year over a new pa
St Mungo’s brutal treatment of BAME worker opposed by Unite
Without income for twenty-one weeks
Pease sign our petition here
Female worker comes to the end o
Choppy waters for Social Housing Pension Scheme?
Unite briefing on Social Housing Pension Scheme
3000 Peabody staff covered in new Unite recognition agreement
Amalgamation of Peabody, Family Mosaic and Gallions
Unite has hailed the signing of a new recognition agreement with the Peabody Group housing association today as an ‘excellent result’ for t
Stop the government deporting homeless people!
Crowdfunding legal challenge
Homelessness workers are opposing the disgraceful proposals to deport homeless rough sleepers though their uni
Unite’s Unity over Division Charter – new sign up
First NHS trust signs charter
While Nottingham Community Housing Association signed the charter in June, Unite reps have found resista
Unite: should be no pay freeze for public sector workers
Think tank report touting public sector pay freeze ‘an insult’, says Unite
Public sector employees, many of whom are essential Covid-19 workers, should not be subject to a continuing pay freeze from a gover
Fighting to get housing associations to address racism
St Mungo’s staff appeal to new CEO Steve Douglas
Housing associations have marked black history month and there has been much talk of the importance of equality. But Unite reps and our members report a crushing l
Unite victory on lockdown picketing
Right to picket during lockdown secured following Unite legal challenge
Our branch sent solidarity to Optare strikers
Raising Pay and Conditions for Care and Support Workers
The Unite Housing Workers Branch has organised a national meeting to discuss a multi-sector campaign, bringing together all Unite members working in care and support, and pressing for safe workplaces, fair pay, better treatment, and a social care system with public provision at its core.
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Unite backs strike action for Corona bonus
Some employers’ responded positively
Many Unite members in housing have been on the front line during the pandemic. Some employers have responded positively to Unite calls for recognition, but others have been d
Crisis of hunger
As food bank use sky rockets Unite calls for urgent reform of welfare system
The coronavirus pandemic has unleashed a crisis of hunger, as new figures from the Trussell Trust food bank network show a surge in demand fo
Protecting the right to picket
Major legal challenge launched to defend right to picket during lockdown
Our branch sends solidarity to Optare strikers and has agreed a donation. The issues they have faced raise basic issues of de
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Facing ‘a winter of shrunken incomes and punishing uncertainty'
Unite GS Len McCluskey urges govt to use ‘every lever at its disposal’ and give UK ‘a plan to protect and recover health, jobs and incomes’
As the Jobs Retention Scheme closes the lead
Housing Association bosses get inflation beating pay rises again
Dwarfs anything staff or residents likely to get
Housing association CEOs have had inflation busting pay increases AGAIN this year according to Inside Housing’s annual VIEW
Deportation plans threaten homelessness services
Frontline homelessness workers oppose brutal policy
Homelessness workers reacted with anger at proposals to deport rough sleepers. Vulnerable people sleeping rough often mistrust agencies and are unwilling to en
Tories reduce winter homeless funding
£1 million less for cold weather shelters
The government announced £12 million of additional cold winter funding to support r
One Housing Group management stop safety inspections
Serious concerns
Last week we reported that, after months of needless delay, management at One Housing Group (OHG) had VIEW
Wear Red Day set to be ‘biggest one yet’
Unite urges everyone to wear the red card
Anti-racist education charity, Show Racism the Red Card, expects this year’s Wear Red Day on Friday (October 16) to be its biggest one yet.
Eve
Management at One Housing Group: unresponsive on health & safety
Health and safety in the pandemic
Health and safety at work has taken on a whole new importance during the pandemic. Members have stepped forward to act as workplace health and safety reps and in many cases work well w
One Housing Group plan cuts to youth services
Cuts to youth services
One Housing Group (OHG) recently informed Unite of their intention to restructure its provision for youth support. Not surprisingly its recommendation was to make cuts to th
Unite reps saving lives during the Coronavirus pandemic
Unite safety rep Moe speaks at our branch
Tuesday 13th October
During the pandemic too many workers have lost their lives. New members for unions and reps h
Homeworking requires negotiation and agreement not imposition
Explosion in home working caused by Covid 19
Unite says employers should reach homeworking agreements to avoid an industrial minefield when turning workers' homes into a place of work.
Outsourcing dogs the housing sector
One Housing Group members fear for jobs
The issue of outsourcing is an issue which is continuing to dog our sector and is another way whereby employers can drive down wages and conditions. Th
Unite demand £500 payment & extra day holiday for risking health
£500 payment and an extra day’s holiday for risking their health working through the pandemic.
Hackney drivers are 'pathfinder'
Unite – responding to employer bad behaviour in the pandemic
Below Sharon Graham outlines Unite’s approach to some of the key workplace challenges we are facing in the crisis. We reproduce this from the ‘Work Voice Pay’ website which also contain
Too Many Employers Do Not Take Climate Change Seriously
Branch survey
The branch recently held a survey of members concerning environmental issues. We wanted to get a sense of members’ concerns, how they felt about their employers’ attitudes to the environment,
Show Racism the red card partnership with Unite
Wear red day
The UK’s leading anti-racism education charity, Show Racism the Red Card (SRtRC), will tomorrow (Thursday 24 September) launch its new partnership with Unite the Union in support of the charity&rsquo
Track and trace doomed to fail unless sick pay raised
Majority of workers face hardship if forced to self isolate on SSP
Any attempts to control the coronavirus pandemic through test and trace efforts are doomed to fail unless statutory sick pay (SSP) is increased as a ma
Govt’s ‘scrimping’ could cost lives
Unite slams measly £13 a day for low waged self-isolators
Thirteen quid a day. Not a lot really when you take your bills, outgoings, kids’ school uniforms, gas – not to mention food &
Local government pay scales: Unite members reject offer
Real terms pay cut of over 20 per cent
Many workers in housing associations are paid on local government scales and have faced similar real terms pay cuts.
About 100,000 council workers, mem
Industrial action in prospect at Riverside
Unite members in Riverside Housing call centres are to consider industrial action. Housing workers in LE1111 branch face many similar issues and the branch sends solidarity to Unite members at Riverside.
Shift pattern changes
Unite: new domestic violence agreement in housing association
Seventy hours paid leave
Unite recently came to a new agreement with Peabody housing on domestic violence. It agrees to provide up to seventy hours of paid leave for employees experiencing domestic abuse and to be flex
Vulnerable workers return to work: Unite support
327,000 ‘extremely vulnerable’ workers
New Unite checklist for reps
Sanctuary Slammed on Equalities
Statement in response to Sanctuary Housing Association's treatment of black resident, Selma Nicholls
By Andrew Bindi, Black & Asian Minority Ethnic Officer
Another case depicting the great disparity that exists between p
Unite fears for vulnerable as shielding ends
Worried about returning to work?
There’s no doubt that life in full lockdown was tough even for the most resolutely optimistic of us. Maybe you were a parent trying also to be both an employee and a teacher as we
Unite reps training: Equalities and Covid + Environmental reps
The pandemic has cut acrosss normal training for reps. Here are two opportunities available over the summer.
Following the election of a branch Eb
BAME representation at senior levels - a G15 intiative
Sector has gone backwards
The ‘G15’ group of twelve large London based housing associations has launched a diploma management programme which it is claimed will increase BAME representation at senior levels
Mass evictions threatened
Cancel rent
The threat of eviction has been a major topic of discussion among branch members fearing for their own homes once the eviction ban is lifted and wondering what landlords that they work for will do.
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Construction site safety procedures ‘inadequate’
Unite won't back Construction COVID procedures until PPE and hygiene failings resolved
Unite has stated that it will not support the latest version of the Construction Leadership Council’s site operating proc
Deaths in construction up by 33% Health & Safety Executive cut
Construction accounts for a third of work related deaths
Unite is warning that the large increase in construction deaths could be related to a steep fall in proactive inspections and prosecutions being undert
Branch meeting: What next for Black Lives Matter and the unions?
Fighting back
Following the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota there has been a huge wave of demonstrations and protests around the world. Many branch members have been on the London events.
Silica dust: Warning to construction workers about PPE shortage
Unite: don’t risk your heath
Unite is urging workers not to risk their health if they are not supplied with the correct PPE.
Silica is a natural substance found in varying amounts in mo
One Housing Group finally honours London Living Wage agreement
Follows pressure from Unite
One Housing Group (OHG) failed to honour their commitment to increase pay for low paid members of staff to the level of the London Living Wage as promised back in
Inquiry into Covid-19 worker death rates call
ONS report on Covid-19 worker deaths increases concerns about inequality and working practices
Unite is calling for an urgent ‘warts and all’ public inquiry into the death rates of workers from Covid-19 dur
PETITION - Pay OHG staff £1000 Corona Bonus now!
Lives risked
Unite members at One Housing Group (OHG) are campaigning for every member of staff to receive a Corona Bonus of £1000 - see our earlier report VIEW
St Mungos: Chance for new start after deportation scandal
New CEO: Chance for new start after Home Office information sharing scandal
Unite urges government to see sense on social distancing
Arguments for blanket reduction of social distancing do not stack up
As the government prepares to report on the conclusions of its review into the two metre social distancing rules Unite, has repeated its offer to dep
Unite’s #WorthMore pay campaign
Local government pay
Some members in housing associations are paid on local authority scales and many, particularly in supported housing, work in local authority funded projects. Our branch gives full support to the lo
One Housing Group staff campaign for £1000 corona bonus
2% increase looks like insult
Unite members at One Housing Group (OHG) are campaigning for every member of staff to receive a Corona Bonus of £1000. Many OHG staff have worked throughout lockdown a
Debate: using police in supported housing projects
Conversations around policing
In recent weeks the Black Lives Matter protests have reverberated around the world. Many branch members have been on protests. It is no surprise that they have been a factor in increas
Housing Association to sign Unite’s Unity over Division charter
Race equality
Unite and Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) will tomorrow (Tuesday 16 June) sign a ground-breaking agreement committing to working together to promote a more tolerant and inclusive
Green Unionism
Over half of carbon emissions are work-related so unions such as Unite have a vital role to play in putting pressure on bosses to reduce workplace emissions. Here, the Housing Workers Branch Environmental Officer, Roderick Cobley, explains why were are now encouraging the election of work
Carers’ Week: workplace carer’s policies can make a difference
Trivallis implement carer’s policy
Unite rep Justin Morgan, who works as carpenter for a housing association in Wales, has become a big champion for carers – despite not being one himself.
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Housing sector losing ground on BME representation
Need to strengthen union
The housing sector has ‘lost ground’ on BME representation according to
Unite solidarity: Protests responding to George Floyd’s murder
This abuse of power must end now
Speaking in response to protests in the UK, US and across the globe, Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary, said:
"Unite stands in solidarity with all t
Unite homelessness workers warn of rough sleeping disaster
Rough sleepers asked to move in with family
Housing minister Luke Hall has written to local councils asking them to put in place plans to support rough sleepers as the lockdown restrictions are eased. He suggests that
Reducing social distancing to 1m doubles infection risk
New evidence on social distancing is important in many sectors including both hospitalty and also in housing.
Physical distancing matters
Reducing the two metre social distancing re
Workers Uniting statement: killing of George Floyd in Minnesota
We cannot be silent
Workers Uniting, the transnational union representing over 3 million workers across the UK, Ireland, United States, Canada and Mexico is outraged and appalled at the killing of a Black man, George F
Unite: Class & race biggest factors for COVID19 victims
Systemic failures
Class and race are the biggest factors in determining those that have died or been taken ill by Covid-19.
Unite has called for a raft of policies to tackle the ‘system
Unite: construction procedures put workers at risk
Unite has sent an open letter to Mark Reynolds, the skills workstream lead of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), warning that the organisation’s site operating procedures (SOP) are placing workers at risk.
Various versio
Unite: construction procedures put workers at risk
Unite has sent an open letter to Mark Reynolds, the skills workstream lead of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), warning that the organisation’s site operating procedures (SOP) are placing workers at risk.
Various versio
Rough sleeping: with resources real change is possible
Funding quietly pulled
On the 27th March, the Government told Councils across the UK to bring people sleeping on the streets to Hotels. According to the Government this has led to 90% of rough sleepers receiving an off
Unite on COVID19 and the mental health crisis
Millions of workers are anxious about the future of their jobs, a new poll published this week shows.
The
Unite to PM `step away' from public sector pay freeze proposal
Workers are on the frontline saving lives
Commenting on the
Mental health issues top workers' lockdown concerns
A survey by Unite has found that workers’ concerns about their mental health have increased dramatically since the lockdown began.
Proactive approach
As a result Unite is calling
Britons want major economic reform – now and after COVID-19
New poll shows hunger for change
A new national poll on behalf of the Unite trade union today finds a country 'hungry for major change' to how our economy works and how key workers are rewar
A Network of Protection for Housing Operatives
Unite activists from a number of housing associations have formed a network to help ensure that operatives and maintenance staff (including plumbers, electricians, and gas engineers), are able to work without putting their health at risk. They also want to minimise the chances of carrying Co
Len McCluskey on government back to work proposals
You will be aware of the great media speculation surrounding our governments' developing proposals to get the country fully back to work as we seek to take the country out of the coronavirus lockdown.
Of course, many of you have been at work throughout thi
Branch Meeting - Unite & the Labour Party - 6pm on 12th May
We have a full and exciting agenda for our next Branch Meeting, including a very special guest speaker. The meeting is open to all branch members and everyone is welcome.
The meeting details are:
Smoke Pollution: A Call for Immediate Remedial Action
During the current respiratory pandemic, we all take responsibility for protecting ourselves, as advised by the Government, scientists and medical professionals. But there is one thing we have no control over: the air we breathe.
It is a well-established fact that Engla
Clarion housing: sign petition against cruel dismissal
Say No to Clarion sacking of disabled Employee
"Our priority during the coronavirus outbreak is to do everything we can to best protect our residents and staff.
Covid-19 and Domestic Abuse: Join the email campaign
We are pleased to be support of this important campaign
The Government urgently needs to allocate ringfenced funding to ensure survivors of domestic abuse who flee abusi
COVID19: Centrepoint staff want their voice to be heard
Fears and concerns
Unite members at Centrepoint recently met to discuss the response to the Corona Outbreak within their own organisation. Members expressed their fears and concerns around issues
Construction workers now eligible for COVID19 tests
Unite has welcomed the announcement that construction workers are now eligible for targeted COVID-19 testing.
Testing announcement
The announcement was made by the health secretary Matt
Fighting for Our Lives
Open Meeting for Building Operatives and Maintenance Workers
As maintenance workers and operative staff are being called back to work, or are concerned about repeated exposure to Covid-19 without adequate protecti
People still rough sleeping: Read about it, sign the petition
Two articles on rough sleeping and see below for petition.
Homelessness worker and branch secretary Jack Jeffrey writes:
Homeless people still not able to access accommodation
COVID 19 Testing needed for construction workers
Key workers
Construction workers must be included in the government’s targeted Covid19 testing of key workers in order to help halt the disease’s spread, Unite said today.
Unite a
Housebuilding must not be put before health
Unite has warned that there are growing fears that building new homes is being put ahead of the health and welfare of construction workers and their families.
Housebuilding safety
The u
A Minutes Silence: Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is calling on all workers to observe a minute's silence at 11am on International Workers' Memorial Day, 28th April 2020. (See also event details
Fighting for a Corona Bonus
Since the Corona virus epidemic, Housing workers have shown how essential they are to the health and well-being of society. Their role has been to ensure that even the most vulnerable of street homeless are provided with shelter and support, and are able to socially distance in a safe environment
Covid regulations unsafe: Unite launches safety hotline
Regulations unsafe
Unite has warned the government that the latest guidance on how construction sites should operate during the current COVID-19 pandemic, is unsafe and places construction workers at u
Unite Victory: MTVHA Redundancies Halted!
Unite members at MTVHA have secured a welcome victory in the case of two members who were due to be made redundant. (See here and VIEW
New COVID 19 equalities checklist from Unite
Unite Equalities have produced a Covid 19 checklist for action. You can view it by downloading here.
See also our health and safety toolkit VIEW | DOWNLOAD
Coronavirus: rights for 'vulnerable' employees
Q: What are my rights as an employee who is in a vulnerable or at-risk group?
This week, Unite solicitor Alys Cunningham explains what your rights are as a worker who is ‘at-risk’ – t
Coronavirus: testing must include homelessness workers
Deadly consequences
Working as a rep in a homelessness organisation I welcome the government’s plans to expand testing to cover frontline social care staff. However, it needs to explicitly include frontline homel
Unite: lack of PPE is national scandal
Unite reps in housing and homelessness are working hard to ensure that safety standards are maintained – in some cases they have been able to work positively VIEW
St Mungos staff - rising health and safety concerns
Five new reps
Five health and safety reps have been elected over the past couple of weeks at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s reflecting mounting concerns from staff about the organisation’s inadequate a
We demand to be safe - negotiation not imposition
Employers must take responsibility
Workers more than anyone are at the forefront of this pandemic, doing everything they can in all situations to kill off this disease and keep us safe. We all want to do our bit to p
Lack of social distancing for Mears housing maintenance workers
Business as usual not good enough
Our branch, along with Unite nationally, has experienced a growth in membership during the Coronaviru
Why I became a health and safety rep
Members are stepping up
The stakes are high and housing workers have been turning to Unite to defend themselves at work in the current pandemic. In the branch, and nationally, Unite membership has been
Unite will leave no worker behind
Battle to ensure safety
Unite will leave no worker behind — that is the message workers are hearing as they turn to the collective protection of their trade union in this time of unprecedented turmoil.
Open Letter to Housing Minister: Protect Our Maintenance Workers
Representatives from Unite @ Thirteen Group and the Unite Housing Workers Branch have today jointly called on the Housing Minister Robert Jenrick, plus the executives of the Regulator of Social Housing, Health and Safety Executive and Gas Safe to meet with Unite over protections for maintenance s
Safety agreement for homelessness workers
Saving lives
The housing and homelessness workers of our branch are playing a key role in saving lives and keeping people safe throughout the coronavirus crisis demonstrating the role that trade unions can&nb
Unite opposes inferior construction safety advice
Inferior CITB coronavirus construction advice should be ditched to avoid dangerous working practices
Unite is calling on the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to withdraw its ‘
St Mungo's must pay £18,000 to victimised former employee
Shocking facts
The homelessness charity St Mungo’s has been told to pay almost £18,000 to a former staff member who was found to have been victimised after an abandoned bullying investigation from 14 years
MTVHA: Members Fear Culture of Racism
We reported previously on the case of an MTVHA member, Andrew Bindi, whose redundancy following a restructure is to go ahead despite the change in the jobs market, and despite government guidance on job retention (see
Unite: Social care workers need PPE too!
Vital support
Social care workers are amongst the army of key workers providing vital support to thousands of individuals who are more dependent on such services than ever before.
But it seem
Unite LE1111 in call to support domestic violence service
Urgent action for DV suvivors needed during COVID19 energency
The Unite houisng workers branch has joined with other organisations supporting a letter<
Please Sign Our Petition
The Unite Housing Workers Branch has today launched a petition in an urgent attempt to stop the redundancy of member Andrew Bindi at a time when his prospects for securing alternative employment are almost zero.
Unite: Social care workers must be provided with full protection
Workers need full protective equipment
Unite reps in homelessness agencies have been pressing for decent safety standards, leave for self-isolating staff not to trigger absence procedures, and support for self empl
Govt urges 'at risk' groups to stay at home including workers
Unite: extend wage assistance to self employed
Help the million bogus self employed in construction
Unite is calling on the government to extend its wage support scheme announced last Friday (20 March), to protect the million plus workers trapped in bogus self-empl
COVID17: New Unite helpline &
New Unite helpline
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Plea to chancellor - UK workers need income guarantees now to a
St Mungo's: strike continues, pickets canceled.
Unite calls off final day of St Mungo’s picket lines in response to Coronavirus crisis
Unite has said that it is calling off the final day of planned picket lines and rallies tomorrow (18 March) in the St Mungo&r
COVID19: TUC guidance
We had a good discussion on coronavirus at our highly succesful branch agm on Saturday. The new TUC guidance is here
There are a number of other reports on this question on this website including
St Mungo's worker ‘We just want to be listened to’
Taking action
Homeless people are among the most vulnerable groups in society – indeed while the average person in the UK can expect to live well past 75, the average rough sleeper in Britain will be lucky to liv
St Mungo’s CEO slammed for weaponising coronavirus
Stop blaming staff for your leadership mistakes
Unite has warned the CEO of the homeless charity St Mungo’s, Howard Sinclair, to ‘stop blaming staff for your leadership mistakes’ as hundreds of worker
St Mungos strike: Support details
Protests and pickets
There will be strike action from Monday 16th March to 18th March inclusive. There will be pickets and protests. Confirmed speakers include Diarmaid Ward, who is the cabinet member for housing at Is
Cornovirus: full pay for Sanctuary self isolating workers
Unite raising need for sector to respond to Coronavirus
Unite reps in the sector are raising the need to respond to the Coronavirus crisis and unions nationally have raised VIEW
St Mungos worker: Why I am Striking
St Mungos workers put vulnerable service users first
St Mungo’s CEO Howard Sinclair taken to the Dai
St Mungos Strike Fund Appeal
Workers at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s are gearing up for three days of strike action from March 16 to 18 inclusi
Coronavirus: Sick pay from day one call
Government urged to guarantee sick pay
The threat of a coronavirus pandemic and the measures taken to contain it have exposed insecurity in the workplace as many workers face the prospect of being forced to stay home w
St Mungos: One workers experience of its sickness policy
Serious equalities questions
A draconian approach to sickness is one of the issues involved in the dispute at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s. The organisations HR department repeatedly unite managers, union
St Mungos: ‘No option but to walk out’
Unite calls for St Mungos CEO to step down as strike dates set
Workers at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s are gearing up for three days of strike action from March 16 to 18 inclusive, after last ditch talks,
New Unite briefing on Social Housing Pension Scheme
Housing associations attack pension benefits
Unite's pension advisor, John Neal has prepared a new briefing on the biggest pension scheme in the housing sector - see below.
We recently re
Branch Annual General Meeting 2020
The Unite Housing Workers Branch will be holding its Annual General Meeting in March. The meeting is open to all members and is an excellent opportunity to discuss the work of the past year and the priorities for the year ahead.
New money “doesn’t repair the damage done by years of austerity”
‘Revolving door’ of housing ministers hinders plans to eradicate rough sleeping
The ‘disgraceful’ number of rough sleepers across the country demands a joined
Clarion Housing pushing people into poverty when they retire
Slap in the face to workers
Commenting on reports that the UK’s largest housing association Clarion is to hike employee pension contributions by up to 22.9 per cent a year, Unite regional officer Matt Freeman sai
Making a Point at Peabody
Protestors gathered outside Peabody Head Office on Wednesday 19th February to make the point that cuts to the community and neighbourhood services cost lives, and are counter-productive.
We're sending a message to the sector: Restore Neighbourhood Services!
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EU rough sleepers and the NHS
This report was originally published by the Public Interest Law Centre. Our branch has been active on the rights of EU rough sleepers and we have consista
'Humans forgotten'
Unite criticises report on Artificial Intelligence in the public sector.
Unite has criticised a new report on the ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public services for failing to discuss the real threat to publ
Beyond #MeToo
Heart unions week: Unite calls for legislation to prevent sexual harassment at work
A strong majority of people believe the #MeToo movement has allowed them to be more open about sexual harassment, VIEW
First home discounts: investment in public housing still needed
First home discounts for key workers must be part of a sustainable housing strategy
Government plans to give key workers 30 per cent discounts on their first homes must be balanced with a council housing strategy that
Rough sleepers bin shelter ‘dangerous and offensive'
Unite calls out Millionaire
A supposed shelter made of two wheelie bins designed by a multimillionaire to help rough sleepers is ‘dangerous and grossly offensive’, Unite said today.
Local government pay: 2% offer rejected
Members of our branch work in housing organisations that are not government departments many of us are on local government linked pay scales and our jobs are often in a Labour market greatly influenced by local government pay.
The three unions representing coun
Protest to Restore Neighbourhood Services!
Join us for the protest against cuts to neighbourhood services, and send a message across the sector.
Peabody plans to drastically cut its Neighbourhood Managers and has done away with the Community Services team. We believe these cuts will cost lives.
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St Mungo’s staff vote to strike in ‘race to the bottom’ row
83.7% for strike
Hundreds of members of staff working for the homeless charity, St Mungo’s, are set to strike after voting by 83.7 per cent for action in a dispute over the reinstatement of ‘race to the bot
St Mungos: 83% vote for strike action
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Unite members in St Mungo’s have voted to strike unless management comes to its senses. They have voted to defend the
Unite supports Long-Bailey and Burgon for Labour Leader
Commitment to radical manifestos
After widespread discussion thoughout the union and in our branch Unite agreed to nominate candidates for leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party. Here our branch secretary Suz
Unite immigration helpline
Brexit concern
Members originally from outside the UK who are concerned about VIEW
Cost of living crisis
Wages would have been 27% higher by now if the pre-crisis trend had continued
The “cost of living crisis” is showing no sign of coming to an end. Only now, over ten years after the financial crisis are wage
Grenfell suppliers request for immunity is a disgrace
Outrage
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, which is supporting 65 core participants at the inquiry into the Grenfell fire has described as ‘absolutely outrageous’, the revelation that companie
Unite support for Enfield ‘no cuts’ councillor Tolga Aramaz
No cuts budgets
The Regional Committee of Unite has voted to support the stand of Enfield Labour councillor Tolga Aramaz in Enfield who is refusing to vote for cuts budgets.
The resolution ca
Unite appeals to St Mungo’s board
Race to bottom
Unite has appealed to the St Mungo's board of trustees to ‘help rebuild trust’ by persuading senior management to reconsider its position and join last-ditch talks, ahead of the strike ba
Grenfell inquirey: Johnson appointee steps down.
Call for change in inquirey
Following calls by residents and by Unite, Benitra Mehra has now resigned. VIEW | DOWNLOAD
Unite: Grenfell advisor must withdraw
Conflicted Grenfell adviser must withdraw from inquiry demands Unite
Unite, the UK and Ireland’s largest union, which is supporting 65 core participants at the Grenfell Inquiry has written to Benita Mehra, who wa
More concern at St Mungos 'eroding' workers organisation
Engaging expensive consultancy
News that St Mungo’s Chief Executive Howard Sinclair has been corresponding with an expensive consultancy about how to stop people joining the union and VIEW
Unite campaigns to challenge the rise of the far-right
Unity over division
In recent years the far right has remerged in Britain and across the Europe.
Far right political parties and groups are trying to gain a foothold in communities across the
'Jacks Law' should be first step in extending bereavement leave
Time off for grieving parents
Unite has called on the government to extend bereavement leave to those who have lost a close relative or suffered a miscarriage following the announcement today that grieving parents wil
Local government pay claim: ‘We are worth it’
Local authority workers demand fair pay after decade of austerity
Members of our branch work in housing organisations that are not government departments many of us are on local government linked pay scales and our
Unite marks Holocaust Memorial Day
"We must learn lessons from history"
Holocaust Memorial Day this year on Monday (January 27) observes two important milestones – the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 25th annivers
Working from home: who pays?
Working from home is becoming increasingly common in the housing sector and a recent Guardian article ‘Should your employer pay your bills if you work from
St Mungos: Unite reps say vote yes
Unite members at St Mungo's deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. But their employer has pushed ahead with changes that threaten jobs, working conditions and the quality of services to vulnerable rough sleepers.
Unite is re-balloting members for strik
Bring Sanctuary Care contracts in-house
Local authorities must bring contracts back 'in-house' after criminal investigation
Unite is urging local authorities who have contracts with Sanctuary Care to bring them ‘back in-house’ after a cri
Survey Says: Associations Fail Workers and Communities!
1st January 2020
At the end of 2019, the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) conducted a survey of tenants and residents, asking respondents to rate the service they received from their landlord.
Bite Sized Bargaining: ‘Hot-desking’
Unite members take up issues that impact all areas of our work - not just pay. Unite recently produced this guide to 'hot desking', what do you think?
Unite calls on St Mungos boss to stand down
Email blunder reveals shameful anti union tactics
Unite has called on Howard Sinclair, CEO of homelessness charity St Mungo’s, to step down immediately after a misdirected email revealed that the charity had work
Modern day slavery in the construction industry
Construction must be forced to change practices following exposure of modern day slavery
Unite is calling for fundamental changes in the way that the construction industry is organised and for the
New poll: Mass social rent building is key vote winner
Housing revolution
A new poll shows the electoral importance of Labour’s commitment to a mass programme of social house building.
We need to get the message out that Labour supports a <
When Labour wins.. election material
When Labour wins, volunatry sector workers win...
Download the voluntary sector leaflet here
Unite in legal battle over bogus self employment in construction
Legal battle with Munnelly group
Unite began legal proceedings against the Munnelly Group and several of its subsidiaries in March 2019, claiming its workers’ were being denied holiday pay and other basic employ
Labour declares “moral mission” to end rough sleeping
Impact of austerity
Our members working with rough sleepers have a burning awareness of the impact of austerity. As a branch we have produced material highlighting the impact of VIEW
Replying to Peabody management on 'social mission'
The reposnse below has been submitted to Inside Housing as a 'letter to the editor.'
Businesses "driven by money concerns"
Last week’s column by Peabody Chief Executiv
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Unite demands stronger asbestos legislation
Damning report – public put at risk
Unite has demanded the government enact stronger asbestos legislation after a VIEW
Raising the bargaining bar
Delegates at Unite’s sector conferences in Brighton have been meeting this week to discuss the formation of industry-wide responses to issues like insecure work, outsourcing and automati
TheGuardian: Why isnt homelessness election priority? A response
"Britain has a horrific homelessness crisis. Why isn't it an election priority?"
‘When Labour wins we all win’
Labour will transform working peoples lives
Unite’s sector conferences meet this week at an extraordinary time in our politics. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to elect a government that gives work
It’s Time to Be Honest about Housing
For decades terms like 'affordable,' 'social,' 'mixed' have been used as cover for market failures in housing - it's time to move on from those schemes and commit to a real solution: council housing. Branch member Glyn Robbins has this in VIEW
Meridian Water: Call for truly affordable council homes
Halt plans for unaffordable homes - build council homes under a Labour government
Chance to offer hope to those trapped by Enfield's housing emergency
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Peabody surplus up – but pressing ahead with brutal cuts
Strike ballot
Peabody Housing today announced a £14 million rise in it’s surplus in the last six months taking it to £67 million.
Meanwhile neighbourhood Managers faced with
Pay claim for Peabody Care and Support
No pay rise for six years
Some of Peabody Housing staff in its Care and Support Directorate have received no pay increase for six years.
To make matters worse they get smaller pension contrib
Victimised Mungos Worker Speaks - November Branch Meeting
St Mungos was found guilty at Tribunal of victimising one of its workers for bringing an equal pay claim. The worker will speak at the next branch meeting. The finding adds to the long list of misdemeanors committed by the organisation, including being forced to apologise for sharing data on migr
St Mungo’s apologise for sharing rough sleeper information
Executive still in place after role in deportations
St Mungo’s Chief Executive Howard Sinclair has apologised for sharing information about migrant rough sleepers with the Home Office saying, “The executive
£1 million cuts plan: Peabody workers announce strike ballot
Devastating consequences
Peabody housing plan £1 million cuts to housing management budgets by March 2020 with potentially devastating consequences to residents and workers. Unite members have voted overwhelmingl
Pay victory for Greenwich housing workers
Strike suspended
About 120 housing repair workers at Greenwich council have suspended their strike action (reported here) after securing a
Unite reps success confronting workplace Brexit challenge
Combat industrial problems
Major new research shows that Unite members are working together to successfully confront the challenges Brexit is presenting in workplaces up and down the country. Despite widespread po
Greenwich housing repair workers to strike
Five day strike over new pay structure
About 120 housing repair workers at Greenwich council are to strike for five days in disgust over the way they have been treated; see earlier report VIEW
Housing Association bosses pay up 3.61% this year
Inflation beating increases for housing bosses
It’s October and as we have come to expect, Inside Housing magazine have produced their survey of the pay of VIEW
Equal Pay: St Mungos victimise female worker
Low ethical standards
Homelessness workers across the sector continue to express dismay at the low ethical standards of senior management at St Mungos which can undermine the important work carried out by its staff.
Workers at ForViva housing association vote to strike
Over 90% vote for strike
Unite housing maintenance workers at,the north west based housing association ‘ForViva’ have voted to strike with a 90.6% majority. The 100 electricians, plumbers, roofers and
Greenwich council housing repair workers vote to strike
Pay Structure
About 120 housing repair workers at Greenwich council have overwhelmingly voted to strike as they are disgusted over the way they are being treated, Unite, Britain and Ireland’s largest union, said
Stop the Rot! Open Meeting
We are demanding an end to frontline cuts and restructures.
The Unite Housing Workers Branch has teamed up with the Social Housing Action Campaign, bringing together tenants, residents and workers affected by frontline cuts and restructures.
Arguing With Accounts - Reps Forum Training Session
The social housing sector is rich. So how come our employers argue that cuts to our pay, terms and conditions are needed?
When economic efficiency is used as an argument, management can point to apparently impenetrable accounts for their justification.
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Unite report exposes Universal Credit
Bombshell report launched today laying bare the misery of Universal Credit
Firefighters important new report on Grenfell
Fire fighters: Austerity and privatisation by consecutive governments led to Grenfell
An important new report from the Fire Brigade Union (FBU), points to the real causes of the fire at Grenfell Tower.
Climate Strike - 20th Sepember 2019
This week, Unite Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner joined many other union leaders when he called on the trade union movement to back school climate change strikes on 20 September. He told the Trade Union Congress:
“Congress,
St Mungos ballot result
St Mungos members:
Thank you to everyone who returned their ballot paper.
78% of you voted in favour of strike action. This is a very strong indication of h
Notting Hill Genesis
Calling All Reps and Activists!
Unite has now announced the date of the next national Housing Reps Forum. This meeting involving all branches representing members in housing associations and other housing bodies is a great opportunity for reps to meet and build campaigns across the sector.
St Mungos: Why I'm voting yes part3
St Mungo’s members share their stories
In the third of our series of first-hand accounts from Unite members at St Mungo’s on why they’re voting for strike action, we meet two more members* w
St Mungos: Why I'm voting yes for action
Why Im voting yes
"This strike is about similar issues to the strike in 2014. The success of that strike has protected terms and conditions since then and we need to stand together now
Unite launches silica register
Unite launches silica register to protect workers whose health could be damaged by dust inhalation
Work in houisng and construction can lead to contact
St Mungos in industrial action ballot
Management walked out of the last negotiations at the ACAS conciliation service. For more about the dispute see here - and for victimisation concerns see VIEW
St Mungos urged to investigate victimisation claim
Trade union victimisation allegation
Unite is today urging Robert Napier, the chair of the board of the homeless charity St Mungo’s, to carry out an immediate investigation into an allegation of victimisat
Strike ballot at St Mungos
STRIKE BALLOT AT ST MUNGO'S HOMELESS CHARITY AS ACAS TALKS FAIL
Unite has expressed disappointment at the collapse of talks at ACAS to resolve the dispute over the changes to terms and conditions at the St Mungo
Mark Francois MP to Raise Unite @ Sanctuary Issues
Mark Francois MP has agreed to raise the detrimental contract changes being threatened by Sanctuary Care on behalf of our members working in the service.
On the 2nd July, reps and branch officers went to meet with Clive Efford MP who agreed to write to Sanctuary stressi
Unite wins paid time off for Peabody worker
Threatened with weapon
Peabody Unite were recently successful in obtaining paid time off for an operative working in an area of the business treated as a subsidiary and therefore where no sick pay is paid.
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Peabody Reps Win Safety Victory!
Unite reps at Peabody have successfully challenged the practice of refusing paid sickness leave for operatives in a case that clearly demonstrates the empowerment of staff through an organised union.
The member concerned was an operative working in an area of the b
St Mungos: further talks
Unite in further Acas talks with homeless charity St Mungo’s after no progress is made
A second round of talks aimed at resolving a long running dispute between the UK and Ireland’s largest unio
Grave concerns about leadership of homelessness agencies
Deportations
Unite housing workers welcome reports that some Labour councils are VIEW
Next Steps for Unite @ Centrepoint
Unite @ Centrepoint is consulting members on the next stages in its pay campaign.
Unite have been negotiating with Centrepoint management over a period of time regarding the annual cost of living award. Despite all efforts negotiators were unable to reach
Unite Deputation to Greenwich Councillors
Camila, Theresa, Comfort, Julie and Yvette were the five workers from Sanctuary Care who visited Councillor Babatola on Saturday 6th July as part of Unite's campaign to scupper Sanctaury's attempt to cut their terms and conditions. They were the five incredibles, five women who refus
Branch Summer Social 2019
We are delighted to announce details of our Branch's 2019 Summer Social. Please join us for food, drink, and lots of good chat!
August Soc
St Mungos: talks to avoid strike action.
Unite in crunch talks with homeless charity St Mungo’s to avoid strike vote
Crunch talks between Unite and the homeless charity St Mungo’s are set to take place tomorrow (Friday 12 July) at the conciliation service Acas i
Next Branch Meeting - Tuesday 9th July
Please come along and tell us about the issues for members in your workplace; we can discuss strategies, and identify branch support:
Unite joins new campaign to end sexual harassment at work
Sexual harassment rife
Unite has joined the TUC and an alliance of other unions, charities and women’s rights groups in a new campaign to end sexual harassment in the workplace.
The lau
Cautious welcome to new CITB bricklaying training scheme
Unite, the construction union, has given a cautious welcome to a new initiative by the Construction industry Training board (CITB) designed to help ensure trainee bricklayers gain the
Sanctuary Care Members Meet Clive Efford MP
Representatives from three Sanctuary Care homes in Greenwich met with Clive Efford MP to outline grave concerns about proposed cuts to their working conditions which they believed would also be detrimental to the vulnerable residents they care for. Also present were the Branch Secretary and
New survey finds stress epidemic amongst housing workers
Burnt out, undervalued and poorly paid
A new survey of housing association workers has revealed an epidemic of work-related stress among staff who feel burned out, undervalued and poorly paid.
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BAME workers discipined by St Mungos
Deepening problem
When Unite looks at figures for disciplinaries we almost always find more frequent use of disciplinary procedures and higher penalties being doled out to black and minority ethnic workers. Where a dr
Unite @ Sanctuary Members Update
Members working at Sanctuary Care have received a letter from Sanctuary management stating, among other things, that:
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the consultation
Concern at treatment of Unite rep at St Mungos
Targeting the convenor: full support from the branch
The leadership team at St. Mungo's is targeting the Lead Unite Convenor at St Mungo’s in an attempt to intimidate and restrict Uni
Grenfell Anniversary Event - 14th June
The Unite Housing Branch and the Social Housing Action Campaign (SHAC) will participate in the Grenfell anniversary event on the 14th June.
Calling All Unite Sanctuary Members!
Sanctuary Housing Group has continued with its plan to reward long-serving, hard-working frontline staff, who care for vulnerable residents and service users, by threatening to cut their pay, terms and conditions.
Our Unite @ Sanctuary members are uncowed, and gearing u
BBC Panorama’s ‘Crisis in Care’
Unite statement on Panorama's 'Crisis in Care' programme
Reacting to BBC Panorama's programme broadcast last night (Wednesday, 29 May) Gail Cartmail, Unite's assistant general secretary for the pub
Preventing violence: Unite calls for statutory duty
Tackling serious violence needs real investment in preventative services!
Unite has submitted its response to the Home Office's draft plans for a new legal duty to
St Mungos update
Unite in St Mungos
While the need for homelessness services continues to rise, the management in some of the providers have been acting like commercial organisations seeking
Transforming the estate I work in
The current issue of Tribune carries this article in which a branch member and housing manager describes the transformation of the estate where he works as the area is rebranded tech city.
The neoliberal city
Housing association cuts hours with no loss of pay
Welcome contrast
A London housing association is to cut working hours with no loss of pay, bucking the trend in social housing.
Unrealistic workloads and mou
Unite @ Centrepoint Pay Survey Now Open!
Unite @ Centrepoint has launched a survey of members to consult on the latest offer from the executive, and find out whether members will agree to strike action if the organisation doesn't improve on
RPI inflation hits 3.0%
Pay falling behind
“The recent jump in the retail prices index (RPI) to 3% means that pay awards are falling slightly behind inflation, according to analysis by XpertHR” reports VIEW
Voices need to be heard - youth service cuts
The young and people supporting them must be recognised
This blog was written by Orintha Lloyd as part of her work experience with Unite and clearly demonstrates that young people nee
70% of LGBT people sexually harassed at work - join the union!
70% of LGBT people sexually harassed at work - join the union, contact your Unite reps
Peabody's well known Community Safety Team threatened
Domestic violence service threatened
Staff were shocked last weel to hear of brutal and sudden cuts at Peabody housing. In a move taken in great haste and without proper consultation, amangement are seeking to close do
Blacklisting: 'Historic' settlement
Unite secures million pound plus legal settlement
Unite has settled its current long running blacklisting case against the construction companies who systematically ruined the lives of their workers.
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Sanctuary Care staff bullied by managers
Manager ripped up leaflets
Staff in care homes managed by Sanctuary Care in Greenwich have been threatened and bullied by managers in a crude response to discontent at the housing association’s p
Unite wins big equal pay payout
£150,000 equal pay victory lifts lid on pay inequality at Royal Bank of Scotland
In housing associations Unite has opposed the move toward spot salaries and away from ‘the rate for the job’ and p
RPI figure shows inflation at 2.4%
Cost of Living - Going Up
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The latest RPI figure shows inflat
Labour homelessness campaign launch
Rotten System
Branch members joined the crowd at the launch of the Labour Homelessness campaign last night. We heard Owen Jones describe homelessness a
Unite Meets with Sanctuary Care Managers
We met today with two representatives of Sanctuary Care's management. Two elected representatives from the Greenwich care homes were present, as well as two officers
Rochdale housing workers to vote for strike action over low pay
Huge pay cuts
The 170 plus members of Unite, employed by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH), have seen their pay cut by 21.7 per cent in recent years, as a result of a series of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases. The hous
Centrepoint pay cut rejected
Centrepoint management offer real terms pay cut
Management at the homelessness agency Centrepoint offered their workers a real terms pay cut at a meeting with Unite last week. This would be the t
Lobby Greenwich Council - 15th May - Support Sanctuary Members
Please join our lobby of Greenwich council in support of Unite Sanctuary members.
We will be asking councillors to prevent Sanctuary’s executive from making severe cuts to care workers’ pay and conditions. Our members provide essential care services to vulne
Rough sleeping cuts: agencies should work with Unite
Spending on rough sleeping halved since 2010
Spending on single homeless people has more than halved since 2010 while rough sleeping has risen by 165% since 2010. No one should be surprised that deaths of homeles
Sanctuary Members: No Surrender! More Action!
18 April 2019
What better way to end the bank holiday week than with a packed and resolute meeting of our Sanctuary Care workers demanding that if the employer doesn't meet their demands, we move to ballot for strike action.
Hypocritical housing associations
Turning up the heat on hypocritical housing associations
Our branch secretary and Executive Council member Suzanne Muna writes in today's VIEW
Brexit on our terms
Trade unionists are not bystanders to the industrial impact of Brexit
We discussed the Unite reponse to Brexit at our branch recently includin
Unite and SME construction firms agree 2.75% pay rise
Comes in to effect June 2019
The Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) has agreed a one-year deal involving a 2.75 per cent pay rise to come into effect in June 2019. This is a result of the succ
Too stressed to work
Rise in stress driven by poor management according the HR managers professional organisation
A new report from the professional body for HR managers confirms the experience of Unite reps in housing associations; st
Sanctuary Care - Next Meeting Date
Our members in Sanctuary are determined to fight back against cuts to their terms and conditions. Our members care for vulnerable and elderly clients, but are now discovering that Sanctuary doesn't care about them.
The previous angry an
Women's Lives Matter - Branch Discussion - 9th April 2019
We are delighted to announce that we have a Special Guest Speaker, Sarah Sachs-Eldridge, for our April Branch Meeting. Sarah will be outlining why the 'Women's Lives Matter' campaign is relevant to both men and women within our branch. The meeting details are:
Unions demand 5% pay increase for Peabody workers
Pay up Peabody
Despite bumper surpluses housing workers at Peabody have repeatedly suffered real terms pay cuts. Now they are saying “enough is enough." Below is the text of a Unite leaflet. Peab
Spy cop unmasked
Identity of former spy cop who spied on activists revealed
The issue of undercover police working undercover in legitimate camapigns and trade unions raises fundamental democratic issues. Our branch has been a s
Slamming Slumlords and Bullying Bosses
On May Day, after we have marched proudly alongside comrades from across the trade union and socialist movement, we will make our way to a picket of the UK Housing Industry awards which will be taking place inside the Grosvenor Hotel. Everyone is invited to join us: 6pm,&
Kate Davies questioned by Notting Hill Genesis staff
Housing Association senior managers part of corporate machine
Newly formed mega housing association Notting Hill Genesis (NHG) held its Corporate Strategy Event on 21st March. The purpose of the event
Unite on construction apprenticeships
More needs to be done
Unite has warned that proposals by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) to give the official titles of craftsperson and master craftsperson to workers who undertake an apprenticeship, published yest
Latest RPI figure shows inflation at 2.5%
Cost of Living - Going Up
The retail price index is the inflation measure that Unite believes best reflects real costs.
The latest RPI figure shows inflation at 2.5%
On 13 February the UK Government’s Office for National
Channel 4 expose Sanctuary - they are also attacking staff
We often point out that housing associations that treat staff badly also tend to treat their residendents badly. Channel Four Dispatches recently reported on Sanctuary Housing Group's failings towards tenants; our members in Greenwich care homes also feel badly treated.
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Mitie industrial relations mess
Mitie in industrial relations mess and should be barred from Interserve contracts, says Unite
Unite is warning that outsourcing giant Mitie should be barred from acquiring contracts from Interserve d
Mears and Mitie housing workers gear up for industrial action
Housing maintenance workers in housing associations will support this dispute. Housing associations concede that poor repairs performance is a major issue for residents and recognise that labour shortages linked to Brexit are a 'threat' to their business plans - but do not always reco
Time off for family and dependants
'Work Voice Pay monthly' from Unite contains regular 'bite size' suggestions for bargaining. Are you taking up work life balance with members where you work? Let us know what you think and read the short guide below.
Winning in the Workplace Training - Sat 30th March 2019
Session Aims
Whenever we’re in dispute with the bosses, whether over pay, changed shifts, or the failure to create a diverse and inclusive workplace, a campaign always dramatically increases our chances of winning.
The Alternative Housing Awards 2019
The Alternative Housing Awards 2019 will take place on Wednesday 1st May, 6pm, at the Grosvenor Hotel - the home of exclusivity and privilege. It will coincide with the industry housing awards being presented in comfort and style inside.
Women hardest hit by cuts
Women relying on council services face a triple whammy from central Government cuts to local government funding
We are fighting back but women workers are amongst the hardest hit by austerity. Our bra
Branch Annual General Meeting 2019
It's that time of year again - the Annual General Meeting is upon us. For those unfamiliar with our processes, this is our collective opportunity to review how we got on in 2018/19 and decide how we want to progress in 2019/20. We also elect the Branch Committe, the group of activists
Catalyst: Pay, Union Recognition, Childcare & Equality
Detailed pay claim
Unite members in Catalyst housing have conducted a wide reaching consultation on their pay claim – that will be true of many workplaces in our branch.
Reps are prepa
Unite to force blacklisting boss back in court
Tenth anniversary of scandal
Unite is closing in on forcing Cullum McAlpine, one of the key architects behind the industrial scale blacklisting of construction workers, to account for his actions in court. The legal de
Councils should set 'no cuts' budgets
Lobby Enfield Council to stop Tory cuts Wednesday 27th February
Our members jobs are threatened by local authority jobs and the cuts have a drastic effect on services including VIEW
Housing support cuts lead to increased rough sleeping
St Mungo’s report produced in response to government strategy
Rough sleeping is on the rise because of austerity and specifically because of cuts in housing services. Jack Jeffrey, a branch member work
Unite’s new period dignity fight is making great inroads
"No need to secretly scurry"
Since Unite’s Period Dignity campaign national launch last September, the initiative has seen a series of successes among business both small and large
L&Q deny staff their bonus
£190m surplus this year
London housing association L&Q angered staff last week when it announced it would not pay them a bonus this year following an announcement that its projected surplus would be cut by &p
Unite demands full benefits for construction workers
Construction industry must get its house in order on worker benefits
Unite is launching a campaign to ensure that all workers in the industry, regardless of their employment status or where their e
‘Remember the past’
Unite, has launched an exciting new history project aimed at engaging directly with a new generation of workers and activists.
In praise of housing workers
Fundamental change
With the Moore-Bick inquiry adjourned indefinitely and many families still in temporary accommodation, 20 months on, Justice for Grenfell seems a long way off. Branch member Glyn Robbins wrote th
February Branch Meeting & Support for the Stansted 15
Our February Branch meeting is packed with important updates and decisions, with several motions being presented and we hope to include a special guest speaker from the Stansted 15.
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Burnout nation
Majority of British workers do not take their full holiday entitlement
Branch members report working longer than contracted hours and being unable to take annual leave. A new survey shows this is a problem across t
‘Proud to help out’
Unite HQ opens its doors to rough sleepers on coldest night of the year
Unite regional officer Tabusam Ahmed... thanked St Mungo’s staff, whose job secu
SHAC Linking housing workers and residents
100% vote for strike action
There was a good turnout on a freezing wet Tuesday evening for the latest SHAC open meeting this week. Stemming from an initiative by the Uni
Not only one ‘blue’ day
On ‘Blue Monday’, Unite highlights mental health in the workplace
On Blue Monday today (January 21) – popularly viewed as the ‘most depressing’ day of the year – Unite is highlightin
St Mungos fight goes on
St Mungo’s bosses trying to reinstate ‘race to the bottom’ T&Cs
Bristol st
Unite launches construction period dignity campaign
Unite reps in our branch have been raising the need for period dignity for all sections of workers as part of Unite's camapign see here
Unravelling Union Recognition - Branch Training - Sat 9th Feb
3rd January 2019
We are pleased to offer places on the Unravelling Union Recognition training, 11am - 2pm, Saturday 9th February, Unite London Region, 33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8DU ( VIEW
Developing Links with Tenants - SHAC Meeting - 29th January
3rd January 2019
All branch reps and activists are invited to the next meeting of the Social Housing Action Campaign, 6.30pm, 29th January 2019 at Unite HQ, Holborn.
When the Unite team at Pe
Unite launch Brexit Immigration law helpline
Botched deal
Unite has launched a specialist helpline to assist migrant workers concerned about immigration issues as the UK leaves the European Union.
Our next branch meeting is a chance to
Peabody: Unite members victory follows strike vote
Unanimous agreement
Last week we reported that Peabody Direct staff had voted for strike action in protest at redundancy
Construction Industry Training Board betrayed
CITB’s betrayal of its workforce in Norfolk and across the UK brutally confirmed
Unite has said that the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is betraying 300 of its staff by effectively making them redund
Health and Safety bulletin
Unite Health & Safety bulletin
New accident bookThe HSE has published a second
Shelter workers secure pay victory
Strikes called off
Members of Unite, employed by housing charity Shelter, are celebrating victory after agreeing a vastly improved pay offer. The decision to accept the new deal means that the VIEW
Vote for strike at Peabody Direct
Unite members threatened with redundancy at the Peabody Direct call centre have voted to strike.
Over fifty “Peabody Direct” staff currently based
Winners of the Tarnished Trophies Announced!
The winners of the 2018 Tarnished Trophies have been announced following hundreds of votes from workers, residents and tenants. Top of the leader board for this year were:
Unity over Division
Unite nationally has launched its Unity over Division campaign in response to the rise of the far right in Britain and across Europe.
If you want a speaker at a workplace meeting or advice on camapigning on these issues do contact a branch officer
&nb
Shelter staff to strike on pay
Shelter workers to strike next month following ‘derisory’ pay offer
Officers of Unite housing workers (LE1111 branch) send solidarity to our sisters and brothers working at Shelter.
&nbs
Peter Bedford Housing Association: Victory for Unite members
Hackney housing strike off as Unite celebrates victory in pay dispute
Planned strike action at Peter Bedford Housing Association, in Hackney, involving members of Unite has been called off after management agreed to ho
Peter Bedford HA: Strike to follow breached agreement
Hackney housing association facing week of strikes over broken pay promises
100% vote for action
Members
Mears buys Mitie's housing arm
Workforce must be protected
Unite the union, representing workers at both Mitie and Mears, is seeking reassurances from both companies that the workforce will be fully protected following today’s announcement (N
Catalyst £11,000 party for boss Redundancies for workers
Catalyst splash £11,000+ on invite only retirement bash for outgoing CEO, the same week some staff are informed of redundancy
Rod Cahill, the retiring CEO of Catalyst Housing Ltd, has enjoyed a lavish invite-only
Strike action at Peter Bedford Housing Association
100% vote to strike
Unite members at Peter Bedford Housing Association voted 100% to strike on a 96% turnout. The strike will start on Monday December 3rd at 8.00am and continue until Friday December 7th. <
#StopUniversalCredit Unite day of action 1st December
#StopUniversalCredit day of action 1st December
Join the #StopUniversalCredit day of action
- Saturday 1st December 2018
VIEW
Stress: a growing epidemic
Working days lost to stress blamed on poor management
Working days lost to stress increased by nearly a quarter in 2017 according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), leading to calls for a “culture change&r
Unite in housing: Pay up!
Housing association margins 'seriously impressive'
Housing associations regularly book record surpluses and margins well over 30 per cent described by Savills as “seriously impressive.” Meanwh
Handling Grievances and Disciplinaries Training
02/11/18
Reps are often called upon to support members through individual casework. This includes grievances and disciplinaries, capability procedures, contract changes, TUPE consultations, pay and pension
November Branch - Special Guest Speaker!
02/11/18
The leadership of the housing sector is not as inclusive as it should be, and doesn't reflect
Unite members at Peter Bedford ballot for pay strike
Refusing to pay increment
Unite members at Peter Bedford Housing Association are currently balloting for potential strike action over pay. Senior management are refusing to pay staff the incremen
Unite produces briefing on SHPS
Threat to housing workers pensions
Last Friday we reported on the anouncement that the biggest pension scheme in the sector, the Social Ho
Catalyst attempting to ram through reorganisation
Environmental services: redundancies threatened
Union busting Housing Association, Catalyst have recently announced plans to reorganise the
Threat to housing workers’ pensions: Unite will resist
Unite to resist any changes that result in a detriment to our members.
Around ten thousand housing workers could face attacks to their pension schemes following the announcement this week of further increases i
Mental health workers struggling under unsustainable workloads
Unite responds to the Care Quality Commission report on social care
Unsustainable workload
Mental health workers are struggling under unsustainable workloads, an NHS watch-dog
Report of ACAS diversity conference
A key element of the work of our reps is promoting diversity and training is availible through the union. Let us know if you have a report to share with other branch members or if you want support. The union currently has national campaigns for VIEW
London assembly questions housing association CEOs
Catalyst boss Rod Cahill fails to impress
Management communication with staff was allegedly helped by derecognising trade unions, at least according to Catalyst housing association boss Rod Cahill. Not surpr
Unite: lack of progress on cladding disgraceful
Likely that St Mungos passed on confidential information
“Likely that St Mungos passed on confidential information without permission”
Rough sleepers rounded up
The Information Commis
Theresa May: no solution to housing crisis
Housing Association bosses give Theresa May standing ovation
Housing association chiefs gave Theresa May a standing ovation for her speech to the National Housing Federation on Wednesday. There can’t be man
Housing Association boss’s get inflation busting pay rises again
Growing gap between workers and top executives
Housing Association boss’s have been awarded an average pay rise of 4.3% this year according to figures published in today’s VIEW | DOWNLOAD
Liverpool hospital safety scandal
Flammable cladding found on unfinished Liverpool hospital contracted out to Carillion
Unite is writting to all safety reps to ensure they are provided with clear evidence that cladding is safe.
Unite demands period dignity
Unite is demanding that women and girls have period dignity. By making changes in our workplaces, our places of education, and in society, women and girls will be able to have a positive period knowing that they are able to access sanitary products.
Catalyst Housing: senior pay races ahead of inflation
Catalyst Housing's annual report shows bumper pay increases for senior management. Below we reproduce the response of Unite reps at Catalyst where Unite has a growing membership and active presence despite the associations anti union stance and refusal to recognise trade unions.
Connection at St Martins restructure: Union fully consulted
Good practice and reducing cost of senior management
After a change in senior management, The Connection at St Martin's (CSTM) recently went through a restructure which will begin on the 1st October. The
Irish Embassy Protest - Support the Dublin Occupations
Housing activists in Dublin have occupied properties on Summerhill Parade and Frederick Street. They are resisting the obscenity of good homes standing empty for years while a growing tide of homeless fend for themselves on the city streets.The activists now face legal action and eviction.&n
Launching Show racism the Red Card's wear red day
Each October Show Racism the Red Card holds its annual Wear Red Day!
Some recent larger than usual events organised by the far right are a warning to the labour movement. At our branch meeting on Tuesday 11 Septe
HCA Pay Strike: Improved Options Approved!
Unite members at the HCA (Homes England and the Regulator of Social Housing) today voted overwhelmingly to endorse a revised set of options on pay following industrial action in July, and a sustained campaign over the last few months. The favoured options take a tiered approach and would signific
To Make HAs Better Landlords, Make Them Better Employers!
The government has published a paper seeking views on their 'vision' for social housing, which they say should provide "safe, secure homes that help people get on with their lives." If this is truly their aim, then government needs to focus not just on measures directly aimed at
September Branch Meeting - Opposing the Far Right!
We're delighted to announce that our next branch meeting will open with Peter Kavannagh, Unite Regional Secretary, on opposing the rise of the far right in Britain.
Housing Green Paper 'pitiful'
No new money
Faced with public outrage following the deaths at Grenfell tower, a deep housing crisis with unaffordable homes and rising numbers sleeping rough the government promised a “fundament
New Date for the Alternative Housing Awards 2018!
Housing association bosses love nothing more than adding to their shelf of nice shiny accolades. But instead of bosses’ self-congratulations, we want residents and workers to have a say.
Construction bogus self-employment rises again
Unite Research
Research by Unite has revealed a fresh rise in bogus self-employment in the construction industry.
A Freedom of Information request made by Unite to the HMRC revealed that 1,12
HCA: 13% real terms pay cut for staff - 'generous' pay at top
Pay settlements below inflation
A look at the recently published HCA Annual Report and Financial Stat
The Simmering Summer Social is Here!
This year, we will be partying as follows:
- Time: 7pm
- Date: Friday 17th August
Pay: information for fighting back
Pay increases
Union members at Torus Group have accepted an increase of 3.1% in 2018/19 following rejection of the initial offer of two per
Work and the heatwave
Temperature at work
Let us know how you are coping with the heatwave at work.
Employers have a legal duty to prevent injury and ill health to their employees if they are exposed to unreasonab
Catalyst sick pay mass grievance: staff still waiting
Catalyst dont recognise unions and appear not to recognise their own staff
Two hundred and forty staff at Catalyst housing are still waiting for a serious response to their grievance which challenges the draconian sick
Job Losses at Peabody Direct
Staff angered by Chief Executive comments
Over fifty “Peabody Direct” call centre staff based at Waterloo, have been warned that their jobs are to be transferred from March 2019 to ex-Family Mosaic offices
Unite fighting the far right
Peter Kavanagh, Unite Lon