The Unite Housing Workers Branch (LE1111)

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Unite report: energy companies £30 billion a year profit

Renationalise energy

A new report by Unite Investigates Energy Profiteering has lifted the lid on why the UK has the highest energy prices in Europe, exposing huge levels of profiteering and reveals how foreign countries and the world’s richest individuals are feasting on the profits.

Average household pays £500 a year in energy profits

The report reveals that in 2024, energy companies made a total of £30 billion in pre-tax profits. This in turn resulted in every UK household on average paying £500, of their already excessively high heating bills, in profits. This is at a time when household energy bills have increased by 42 per cent since Winter 2021.

 
The report also brings to light the excessive profits available in the sector. The average profit margin in the sector is 23 per cent (three times the national average). In some areas of the sector especially in the grid, profit margins currently stand at 38 per cent.

Profits bigger factor than levies

While some people have blamed green levies for high energy bills, the report found that excessive profits are a far bigger factor. In 2024, green levies are under a third of energy profits (£9.9 billion) compared to £30 billion for profits. To make matters worse the biggest green levy, the renewable obligations scheme, is used to subsidise the profits of energy generators.
 

Households being fleeced

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “What the Unite energy costs report  clearly shows, is that households are being fleeced pure and simple.

Energy bills up by 42 per cent since 2021, whilst energy companies made £30 billion profit in just one year. The government is turning a blind eye to these excessive profits. That must change. Everyday people cannot continue to pay. 
 

“The chaos of the current system has resulted in the highest energy bills in Europe. 

 
“We need to look at other countries like France and begin to plan to own our own energy. Only then, can the ever-bulging profits currently going to shareholders, be used to keep bills down for households and businesses.”

World's wealthiest feasting on UK energy profits

The report details how some of the world’s wealthiest people and international investors have a significant stake in the UK’s privatised energy system. US Investors Blackrock and Vanguard both have major stakes in UK energy companies. While Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky owns gas generator EP, Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka Shing is the largest shareholder in UK Power Networks, while Warren Buffet is the largest shareholder in Northern Powergrid.

 
Foreign states also financially benefit, receiving a third of all energy profits. The Norwegian Government through its foreign wealth fund received nearly £6 billion (£5.9) in gas profits. This is by far the largest amount but other foreign states that are receiving UK energy profits include France (owns nuclear generator EDF), Denmark (owns wind generator Orsted) and Qatar (gas importer and owns shares in many energy companies).

Solving the crisis

Unite reports sets out several measures to end corporate profiteering of the energy sector including:
•    Public ownership, through renationalisation at a book value total cost of £90 billion, beginning with the Grid (both transmission and distribution networks)
•    A significant pay rise for energy workers so they directly benefit from the profits they are producing
•    A truly just transition for North Sea workers as the UK moves to net zero
•    Properly fund GB Energy to allow it to fully invest in new generation projects
•    Maintain a public stake in green energy projects so that the UK directly benefits from future projects.

Read the full report here. 

3 November 2025

Sky news exposes Clarion fire safety scandal

“We always meet our targets”

A Sky news report exposes how a Clarion manager told staff to fake a fire safety notice. "Don't tell anyone I told you this" she warns. "I'm trying to help you hit your targets," she says, adding: "My team is always on point, we always meet our targets."  Ther report is a reminder of the importance of strong workplace union organisation in ensuring basic standards and pushing back against crude cost cutting by management.

"Sanctuary just aren't interested in getting the job done properly. The pressure is to meet targets and keep costs down, not safety or the tenant." 

Members of our branch around the sector regularly report frustration at difficulty in doing their job properly due to targets financial pressure transmitted through managers. Experiences like this were a major factor leading our branch to initiate and support the housing association resident campaign SHAC.

Death or serious injury

Chartered Surveyor Andre Taring told Sky that the consequence of the information not being available in the event of a fire could be "death or serious injury". He said he was not surprised as cutting corners on fire safety "will be industry-wide".

The fire safety notice discussed in the report was a poster advising residents who have disabilities or vulnerabilities to contact the landlord. The need for a building owner to identify people who will need additional help in the event of a fire is part of compliance with new regulations introduced since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 killed 72 people.

Criminal offences

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson commented "Those breaking the law can already face prosecution for criminal offences including prison sentences and we're introducing new laws so that residential personal emergency evacuation plans are required for all high-rise homes - with funding to help social landlords provide these for tenants - and ensure staff managing social housing have the skills and training to keep residents safe." See here for information about recent steps on training.

Unite members should report concerns about safety to reps or to the branch. We are committed to working with the fire fighter’s union, SHAC and others to press for decent standards.

Many housing associations -  like Clarion - continue to refuse to recognise Unite and adopt a controlling and arrogant approach to tenant organisation.  In practice they listen to the voice of ‘investors’ rather than their workers or tenants.

A worker at Sanctuary housing, which refuses to recognise union's despite strike action demanding recognition said, "Sanctuary just aren't interested in getting the job done properly. The pressure is to meet targets and keep costs down, not safety or the tenant." 

Paul Kershaw, Chair Unite housing workers LE1111 branch

23 October 2025

Housing association bosses pay up 8.6% in a year

Median CEO pay up by over £14,500

The median basic pay of a housing association Chief Executive Officer went up by 8.6% over the last year according to a survey conducted by Inside Housing magazine. Median total pay including bonuses etc. was up by over £14,500 to £194,643. That is an 8.1% annual rise. It is safe to say few of their staff have seen compatible increases.

The highest paid boss was Greg Reed of Places for People who is on £560,271 per year. Clare Miller of Clarion took a 9.8% increase in total pay bringing it to £491.079 and Sanctuary’s Craig Moule is now on £426,455. Sanctuary.

Food bank

Sanctuary refuses to recognise unions and operatives are demanding parity with office based staff. Perhaps they should call for parity with executives? Fiona Fletcher-Smith the boss of L&Q, another association where staff are angry, is on £376,796

Tenants struggling with the cost of living crisis and inadequate repairs will be angered by these figures. Housing workers have seen their pay and conditions for years are told there is no money for them. Too many are forced to use food banks and fear homelessness. The gender pay gap among CEO’s widened to 16.9%

Unite pay campaigns should make reference to housing bosses increases. The branch will make further details available to reps and interested members. Inside Housing looked at the 158 largest associations in the UK.

Paul Kershaw Chair Unite housing workers LE1111

Latest news reports from Unite housing workers here 

Housing crisis: is Labour our party?

The housing crisis deepens, Labour offers no way out

The housing crisis is rapidly deepening, and Labour’s plans do not offer serious hope despite skilful spin. Members of the Unite housing workers branch see the horrific impact in their work as well as facing the struggle to get an affordable home themselves. Labour is continuing austerity in housing. Here we look in detail at some recent developments and the prospects for fighting back. Read full article here.

Birmingham bin workers vote to extend strike into spring

Dispute escalates as government commissioners block deal and government allows fire and rehire

Unite voted to review its relations with Labour following the announcement that the bin workers would face the sack in a resolution moved by a member of our branch, see here.

The attack on the bin workers pay and conditions is part of the wider crisis of local government funding which hit both directly provided services and local government funded services such as supported housing. Unite has launched a campaign for fair funding of local councils, see here.

Birmingham residents paying millions in extra costs for agency workers and injunctions

Long running strikes by Birmingham bin workers over effective fire and rehire pay cuts of up to £8,000 could be extended past Christmas and into spring, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

The workers have overwhelmingly voted to extend their industrial action mandate to March 2026 over the brutal cuts, which would leave some at risk of losing their homes.

Strikes have continued after the government appointed commissioners in Birmingham scuppered a deal that would have ended the dispute.

“Could not get the deal past the commissioners”

Talks brokered by the conciliation service Acas in May and led by the council’s chief executive Joanne Roney agreed a “ball park” deal which would have ended the dispute.

However, Ms Roney latterly advised that she could not get the deal past the commissioners. It is clear therefore that there is no point at this stage having further negotiations with the council. The ball is in the government's court.

It has also been revealed that the cash strapped council is paying millions extra to operate its refuse service during the strikes.

Injunctions

In July, Birmingham Live published a freedom of information response that revealed that Birmingham council had already spent £6.5 million on agency workers supplied by the Job and Talent employment agency. In addition, £1.3 million had been spent with the contractor Tom White Waste (wholly owned by Coventry council) to try to undermine the strike.

The council has also spent hundreds of thousands on legal injunctions against the striking workers, which again would have been unnecessary if the dispute had been resolved. Costs to council taxpayers will continue to climb the longer the dispute continues.

In July, the government amended the Employment Rights act so that councils like Birmingham could legally fire and rehire their workers.

Angela Rayner

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Throughout this dispute the government has denied any involvement. It is now clear that commissioners reporting to Angela Rayner blocked a ball park deal thrashed out at ACAS.

“The recent amendment by the government to the Employment Rights Bill, that allows councils in debt to fire and rehire their workers shows what is really going on here.

“Council workers are being lined up to pay the price for years of austerity.”

Regarding the importance of government taking responsibility, Sharon Graham continued:
“There is no point at this stage negotiating further with the council as they do not have authority to resolve the dispute.

Workers turning away from Labour

“If Labour cannot see what is happening in Birmingham is wrong, it is little wonder workers are turning away from them in droves.”

The council’s threats to make workers redundant unless they accept the cut in pay is a clear case of fire and rehire. The Labour government had promised to ban fire and rehire but has now effectively reneged on that commitment.

Birmingham’s bin workers voted 99.5 per cent in favour of strike action with a turnout of 72 per cent.

Unyielding support

The workers began intermittent strike action in January and indefinite strike action in March.

Unite national lead officer Onay Kasab said: “Strike action will continue for as long as necessary with Unite’s unyielding support.

“Politicians’ treatment of these workers, including lies about no one losing pay and broken promises about being able to retrain in driving roles that are now nowhere to be seen, is amongst the worst Unite has even seen.

“The only way this dispute will end is with a fair and reasonable deal for Birmingham’s bin workers.”

There will be a Birmingham bin sytriker speaking at the NSSN rally this Sunday in Brighton at this NSSN event. 

2 September 2025

Local government Unite members reject offer

Council workers overwhelmingly vote to reject this year’s pay offer

Local authority workers who are members of Unite have overwhelmingly voted to reject this year's pay offer of 3.2 per cent.

Council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were offered the increase from 1 April 2025, which was tabled by national employers without any negotiation with unions. However, 84 per cent of Unite members in local authorities have rejected it in a consultative ballot.

Industrial action ballots

Following discussions with sister unions in the local authority sector who were consulting at the same time, Unite could now hold ballots for industrial action which could take place from late summer.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Local government workers have had years of real terms pay cuts and this offer has completely failed to address that.

Funding crisis

"Council workers must not be made to pay the price for a funding crisis in local government that is not of their making and Unite will back them all the way in their fight for fair pay."

The pay offer has been made against a backdrop of swingeing cuts to local council services and budgets, which has led to local government workers seeing their pay decrease by around 30 per cent in real terms since 2010.

High rates of interest

Meanwhile UK local authorities were £122 billion in debt as of 2024, with government lenders charging high rates of interest. Six councils have been declared bankrupt since 2021, with 43 per cent of England’s 317 local authorities at risk according to data from the National Audit Office.

Unite is currently running a Fair Funding for Local Authorities campaign in a bid to save councils from bankruptcy and protect services. It calls for several reforms to the way councils are funded. These include restructuring debts, investing in well-funded jobs, public services and communities and an end to austerity. Read more here.

Workers pay

Last week, the government announced plans to reform council funding, including overhauling how council tax is calculated, business rates reform and an end to competitive bidding.

While these align with much of what Unite is calling for in our campaign, the union is concerned that the plans don't mention vital demands such as tackling government debt or improving council workers' pay.

Urgent

Unite national officer for local authorities Clare Keogh said: “While we welcome the government’s proposals, the plans don’t go far enough.

“The government hasn’t pledged to tackle local authorities’ debts, which would save councils from bankruptcy and allow money to be re-routed into workers’ pockets and vital services. There is no new money being provided for their plans.

“Unless the government puts more money into the sector, councils will still face bankruptcy. This is an urgent situation and Unite urges the government to back our campaign and enact real, meaningful changes to how local authorities are funded.”

Bin strike 

In Birmingham the council is seeking to impose huge pay cuts on some of its workers - that is why the Bin workers have been on strike. This is a warning of the impact of a failure to address local government funding.

Recent polling shows support for Labour in Birmingham has been seriously hit by the strike; 6% say they would support Labour, see here. The strikers will be among the speakers at the NSSN conference in London on July 5th, see here.

24 June 2025

Birmingham public not swallowing Labour lines about strikers

Fair funding for councils

Branch members attended the launch of Unite’s campaign for fair funding of local authorities last week. This campaign is vital to prevent council workers – and workers in council funded services facing attacks such as those that have led to the bin strike in Birmingham.

Just 5% Birmingham residents likely to vote Labour

Just five per cent of Birmingham residents likely or very likely to vote Labour in next year’s local elections according to new polling which demonstrates the potential of the campaign.

New polling shows Labour is set to lose Birmingham council at next year’s local elections due to its handling of the bin strike and its attempts to force ruinous pay cuts of up to £8,000 on refuse workers.

The independent survey of 900 residents by Find Out Now found that just five per cent were likely or very likely to vote Labour.

Three per cent approve of council leader

Nearly half (47 per cent) were very unlikely to vote Labour and 12 per cent were unlikely to vote Labour (see notes to editors for full polling breakdown).

The survey, which was weighted for representation, also asked residents if the council’s handling of the bin strike made them more or less likely to vote Labour in the next local elections.

Over half (56 per cent) were less likely to vote Labour, with just four per cent more likely.

Asked how they felt about council leader John Cotton not attending any of the negotiations to end the bin strikes, 62 per cent disapproved with just three per cent approving.

Workers turning away from Labour

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is little wonder that workers in Birmingham are now turning away from Labour in droves, with a Labour council leader and a Labour government expecting bin workers to take a pay cuts of up to £8,000. For many this means that their homes are at risk.

“It is clear that the residents of Birmingham have not been swallowing the lines put out about these workers and instead are rightly putting the blame for this dispute squarely at the door of the Labour council and the Labour government.

“The shambles now unravelling at Birmingham Council is due to bad decision after bad decision made by politicians. It should not be up to hard working bin workers to pay for that. Unite will not stand by and let workers be treated in this way.”

Birmingham bin workers will be speaking at the NSSN conference in London, branch members will be supporting this event, see here. 

23 June 2025

Important victory for Livv housing strikers

More pay, pensions and annual leave plus a reduction in the working week at Livv housing

Livv Housing had initially offered staff a 5% pay increase, but union members refused that offer. They called on the employer to address  the real-terms pay cut of 30% that staff had experienced since 2011'. From October 2024, workers have sustained a programme of strikes.

Unions secured a pay deal for 2024/25. Workers voted to accept an immediate pay rise of 7.7% plus a £175 non-consolidated payment.

Under the deal, matched pension contributions will increase from 6% to 10% and a pension salary sacrifice scheme will be implemented to help members benefit from tax savings. Staff will also receive a further three days of annual leave a year.

As part of the agreement, there will be an immediate reduction in the working week from 40 hours to 39 hours. A working group from the employer and union side will be set up to look at a further reduction to 38 hours or lower within 12 months.

We’d had enough

Lead Unite rep Kevin Byrne sums it up: "Taking strike action is difficult, a last option for any worker. But we'd had enough. Our anger at the inequalities in pay and treatment kept us on the picket line. Our core strength remained, and it was that collective strength that turned the dispute in our favour." Workers in other housing associations have also had enough and will take inspiration from this strike.

See daily Mirror report from the picket line here.

Click here for more news reports