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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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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
RPI figure shows inflation at 2.4%
Cost of Living - Going Up
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The latest RPI figure shows inflat
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
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
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.
&n
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
‘Enough is enough’
Thousands call for a better working deal at TUC march
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in London on Saturday (May 14) to demand a better deal for British workers, who are now enduring falling living stan
Savills: housing association profit margins increase
As Unite reps are discussing this year’s pay round with management further evidence confirms the remarkable profitability of housing associations.
Seriously impressive margins
Despite t
Below inflation pay offer: housing workers prepare strike action
Torus Group impose below infation pay
Unite members employed at Helena Partnerships Limited, Golden Gates Housing Trust and Torus 62 Limited, who undertake housing maintenance on social housing in Warrington and St Hel
Feeling the squeeze - fight back on pay
Wages need to rise faster than inflation
This week’s figures for price inflation show prices rising at 3.6% per year (RPI) and forecast to remain steady. That means we are still feeling a w
‘Record profits’ for housing associations
New Moody’s report
UK Housing Associations once again made record profits according to a new report from VIEW
4% inflation – what about our pay?
Real hardship
The RPI inflation figure stands at 4% with fuel and light costs up 6.5%. After many years of pay and conditions being squeezed in housing associations many Unite members are now calling for 5% pay i
Strikes secure 20% pay increases at Manchester Mears
Unite claims victory following agreement in marathon Manchester Mears dispute
Housing workers have followed the dispute at outsourcing giant Mears in Manchester and will welcome this outcome. The Unite housin
Deepening skills crisis in construction
Industry remains in denial on construction skills chasm
Unite has renewed its demands for radical action to be taken to tackle the deepening skills crisis facing the construction industry.
Unite made
4.5% pay boost at Peter Bedford Housing Association
Positive result for members
Unite members at the small north east London supported housing organisation Peter Bedford Housing Association (PBHA) have agreed a pay dea
Fare increases outstrip pay
We pay five times as much as European commuters
Commuters were faced with around 3.6% fare increases today. As has been widely VIEW
New Moody’s report gives financial thumbs up for associations
They can afford good services and a 5% pay increase
The ratings agency Moody’s has given housing associations a financial thumbs up noting the favourable policy environment and good operating margins in a new
Inside Housing reports: how housing crisis hits housing workers
“I have been street homeless while working in the sector”
A major investigation by Insid
RPI inflation hits 3.9% Britain still needs a #PayRise
Real terms pay cuts
Figures released on October 17th show inflation at its highest for half a decade with the R
RPI inflation hits 3.6% What about our pay?
Only senior executives avoid real terms pay cuts
Unite members will face a further squeeze as RPI inflation - the most realistic indicator of costs faced by workers - came in at VIEW
Plumbing pay deal win
Unite welcomes new agreement
Following lengthy negotiations with employer representatives from the plumbing industry, Unite has secured a three-year pay deal for plumbers employed under the Joint Industry Board
Mears strikers protest at Chartered Institute of Housing
£3,500 less for doing the same work
Members of Unite in social housing will be demonstrating outside the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Housing 2017 conference at the Manchester Central C
Clarion: a fair slice of the cake?
Undervalued, overworked
We were going to send some cake round today but decided to eat it ourselves and tell you to know how much we enjoyed it. We’ve heard you’ve got so much work, increased targets and, m
Manchester housing strikers determined
Striking Manchester housing workers in ‘crazy car clamping’ threats
Private housing contractor Mears and joint venture company Manchester Working, are accused of issuing ‘crazy car clamping’ th
Fighting back at Thirteen Group
Thirteen Group concede and agreement is reached
As we reported yesterday RPI inflation has hit 3.5% and is rising, when you conmpare thuis to pay in the sector it is no wonder that Unite members in housing show a g
Inflation hits 3.5%
Unite warns of ‘wage squeeze’ as inflation outstrips average earnings
Britain’s largest union, Unite warned of a continuing Tory ‘wage squeeze’ not seen since Victorian times as the latest
Clarion Housing: Unite recommends rejection of pay offer
Offer represents real terms pay cut
Clarion housing has offered staff an increase of 2.5% on basic pay rates. Inflation is currently running at 3.1% measured by the Retail Price Index (RPI) and all analysts proje
Inflation to reach 3.4% CPI this year
NIESR: 'households will feel the pinch'
Inflation will hit 3.4% CPI later this year according to the respected National Institute Economic and Social Research (NIESR) in a VIEW
Low pay: Housing workers offered financial counselling
Family Mosaic offering staff financial advice to ease mental health concerns
Housing association Family Mosaic has announced that in response to the pressures resulting from low pay they will “offer our staff the
Minimum Wage to Rise by 4%
The Annual National Minimum Wage Rise Recognises The Real Rising Cost of Living
The National Minimum Wage for workers aged 25 and over is rising by more than 4%, increasing from £7.20 an hour to £7.50. For those working full-t
Jump in inflation rate underlines case for pay claims
4% minimum pay increase in the housing sector needed
The headline inflation figure jumped to 2.3% in February. Figures released today show that inflation has risen by much more than expected; the main drivers of
New evidence that housing associations can afford decent pay
Sector optimistic and ready for future challenges
'Economic sentiment' among housing associations is at its highest level since the financial crisis according to an VIEW
Housing workers calling for 4% pay increases
Resounding message
Unite has agreed to campaign for a minimum 4% pay increase in housing and reps have been getting a resounding message fr
Pay: "Utterly shameful"
Shocking report shows UK nearly bottom for wage growth
Housing associations have been booking record surpluses year after year while squeezing
Work Your Proper Hours Day, Friday 24th Feb 2017
Housing staff work well over contractual hours
Work Your Proper Hours Day, Friday 24th Feb 2017, is the day when the average person who does unpaid overtime finishes the unpaid days they do every year, and starts earn
Housing Associations book record surpluses - again!
£3.4 billion surplus over the last year
English Housing Associations have produced a record surplus of £3.4 billion over the last year according to the latest ‘Global Accounts’ for the sector pr
Money's Too Tight to Mention!
Pay Campaign Training Day a Success!
It's probably no surprise to fellow members of the sector that whilst the housing sector grows richer, social house building is curtailed, and our members' wage rises fail t
Wishaw Housing Association workers in second four day strike
Stop attacking conditions
Unite the union is calling on Wishaw and District Housing Association in Scotland to stop attacking the conditions of hard-working members. Workers at the housing association will strike
New figures: Housing bosses get inflation busting pay increases
Chief Executive pay up 4% on average while services and staff pay are cut
Overall pay for Housing Association bosses is up by 4% this year, once again an inflation busting increase according to Inside Housing’s p
Unite Launches 'Work, Voice, Pay' Guides
As part of Unite's industrial strategy, a range of Work, Voice, Pay guides have been produced to assist you, our shop stewards and representatives, in your critical work on behalf of our members.
HCA: Government housing staff strike for fair pay
New survey: unmanageable workloads in housing
The Guardian: “Housing staff face 'unmanageable' workloads – poll”
OHG staff 3% pay claim
One Housing Group Unite members call for 3% pay increase
Last week The Times listed One Housing Group (OHG) boss Mick Sween
Housing associations: record surpluses again this year
Largest associations record £3 billion surplus – up a quarter
England’s largest housing associations recorded a record £3 billion combined surplus today as revealed on the Homes and Community Ag
Strike brings gains at big north east housing association
Union members at Thirteen Group accepted a management offer this week following a bitter industrial dispute involving strike action. Over time, Unit
Pay dispute at Thirteen Group
Pay dispute at north east’s biggest housing association group triggers industrial action
Repairs and maintenance to homes managed by Thirteen, the largest group of housing associations in the nor
Letter on increasing commercialisation of homeless agencies
Letter to Labour Campaign to End Homelessness
The campaign have a launch meeting at our union head office with an invited speaker from the executive of St Mungos Broadway. Unite members in the sector have asked o
Big housing associations: surpluses up again
The largest 75 housing associations in England boosted their combined surplus to £2.2bn this year according to a new survey in Inside Housing (pay wall).
Pay jobs and services under attack in Circle Housing
Circle CEO Mark Rogers
Circle Housing: redundancies, pay cuts and lower quality services
Memb
Inflation busting increases for housing Chief Executives
Inside Housing reveals housing boss’s pay
In the biggest hundred housing associations, chief executive total pay (includes basic pay, bonus and car allowance) 5.5% to £182,780. Bonuses for chiefs of the biggest 100 ho
Alarm bells ring over future of housing staff pensions
Unite has issued this statement today 30 July 2015
The increased contributions to the pension fund for social housing staff should not be used as an excuse for housing association bosses to provide inferior pension provision for employees.
Unit
Hands off our pensions - contribution increase announced
The Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) has written to employers this week informing that they will be required to pay just under £32 million in increased contributions from next April.
While housing association bosses have been increasing their pension pot
Second industrial action ballot at Look Ahead Care & Support
Hackney services balloted on pay
An earlier protest by Unite members in Look Ahead
A seco
Look Ahead staff in Brent ballot for possible strike
Branch members working for Look Ahead Care and Support in Brent are being balloted for possible strike action – papers will be sent out on Monday 10th July.
The ballot follows management’s failure to consult with Unite over a proposed restructure following a
More in the Guardian on pay as branch leaflets Peabody
Visitors to the Peabody staff conference on Wednesday were greeted by red Unite flags as CBHA tenants and branch members handed out leaflets. One leaflet outlined tenant concerns while another outlined Unite members' frustration over pay. Staff echoed the pay concerns in the confer
The Guardian reveals Housing Association pay inequality
Today’s Guardian reports that Housing association chiefs earn up to 23 times more than rank and file staff - see here
Jane Ashcroft
The Guardian reveals low pay by housing associations
The Guardian reports today on low pay and inequality in housing associations
Lowest-paid staff in social housing sector receive below the living wage, at an average of £7.69 per hour, while Housing association chiefs earn up to 23 times more than rank and file sta
Pay Survey on its way to you
Discontent about pay has been growing in the housing sector and members of the Unite housing branch LE1111 are being surveyed about pay - let is know what you get and what you think! .. and dont forget to return the survey to us. Click on 'Download' below to get a pdf of the survey.
National Minimum Wage Campaign
The April branch meeting was proud to support the £10 Now! campaign for a £10 per hour National Minimum Wage. This campaign is being led by the bakers' union (BFAWU), but low wages are a big issue in our sector, despite the high surpluses amassed by housing associations. The
Pension scheme deficit announced
We have warned of the possibility that employers in the housing sector will attempt to worsen our pension in a number of recent reports on this website. Inside Housing last week reported that the deficit on the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS) fund has been announced as £1.32 bill
Housing Associations Surplus - £2.4 billion this year
Housing Associations – another record suplus
The newly published global accounts of the sector for 2013/14 show an aggregate surplus of some £2.4bn. Surpluses have risen over the last three: £1.1bn, 1.8bn and £1.9bn according to the HCA (Ho
Sanctury to consider leaving SHPS pension scheme
Sactuary Housing, the UK's largest landlord are considering leaving SHPS - the Social Housing Pension Scheme according to a report in today's Inside Housing, see here
Britain needs a pay rise - so we need strong unions!
Strong trade unions not empty rhetoric the way to give Britain a pay rise, says McCluskey
Strong trade unions, not empty attempts to curry favour, is the way to giv
Social housing pension scheme - defend it!
There are plans to change the biggest pension scheme in our sector in ways which would reduce benefits to our members. It is important that Unite reps raise this issue with management and consult Unite members in any workplace with members of SHPS - the Social Houisng Pension Scheme.
New survey highlights housing staff discontent over pay
Nearly 60% of housing workers are dissatisfied with their pay according to a survey conducted by Inside Housing and Hays Social Housing – a consultancy used by many employers in the sector.
Only around 10% of employers said they had awarded better than cost of liv
Threat to decent pensions in housing
In recent years there has been a trend for pension benefits to be reduced in the social housing sector. As the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS), the largest scheme in the sector prepares to announce its latest deficit, Inside Housing reports that this will increase the likelihood of emp
Fighting and winning pay claims
Unite housing workers branch secretary Suzanne Muna has written an important article on fighting and winning pay claims drawing on our experience in the branch. She points out that many battles in the branch have been about management attempts to cut the pay of front line workers. Mea
Housing Associations to become more profitable again next year
English housing associations are set to continue their path of increasing profitability according to Moody’s – the credit rating agency in a report issued this week.
The sector has repeatedly booked record surpluses in recent years, and Moody’s expect
