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Management refuse to negotiate: Hestia workers vote to strike

Hounslow Hestia LIFE workers to strike

 

Workers at Hestia LIFE in Hounslow have voted to strike following management’s refusal to negotiate. Issues include low pay and unrealistic workloads.

 

The government conciliation service ACAS has approached both Unite and Hestia but while Unite has made it clear that it would be happy to talk Hestia management has also refused to engage in conciliation.

 

Bullying

 

Hounslow LIFE is one of Hestia’s larger services and supports over 600 of the borough’s vulnerable adults. Hestia has a deeply committed workforce in Hounslow. Management’s refusal to listen to members reasonable concerns, or to engage with them and their chosen representatives, has angered the workers to the extent that they have voted to take action.

 

 

Hestia workers with Mick Lynch of the RMT at a Hounslow meeting

 

Unite Regional Officer, Steve O Donnell commented, “Our members believe that Hestia management have taken an arrogant and bullying approach for a number of years. For example, after their pay claim was submitted, they were sent threatening letters saying that even talking about union issues could lead to disciplinary measures.  It is quite possible to resolve the issues in this dispute and to avert a damaging strike, but the first step must be negotiation.” More on management’s threats concerning discussing trade union matters here.

 

Understaffing and low pay

 

Hestia management have refused to negotiate with Unite over a number of important issues in the organisation. When Unite members complained that they were paid less than the London Living Wage despite the organisation’s public claim to pay this minimum standard management refused to talk to the union. Only after a Unite campaign involving publicity, the intervention of local authorities funding Hestia schemes and the Living Wage Foundation was this matter resolved. 

 

Sharon Graham

 

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Hestia management are refusing to negotiate with Unite to address the understaffing and low pay. The workers are left with one option and that is industrial action. We hope management quickly comes to its senses and negotiates.”

 

Lack of respect

 

Paul Kershaw, chair of the Unite housing workers branch commented, “Many care organisations are experiencing difficulty in delivering services because of staff recruitment and retention problems. But Hestia’s problems are only made worse by the management’s refusal to negotiate with Unite and lack of respect for their workers. It is now essential that Hestia’s board and all stakeholders insist that management adopt a more reasonable approach. Failure to do so will endanger an extremely valuable service for some of the most vulnerable people in Hounslow. Unite will give total support to our members in Hestia.”

 

 

Unite has written to the Hestia trustees calling on them to ensure that their management come to the negotiating table. See letter here.  90% of workers voted to strike on a 76% turnout. An intial two days of strike action have been announced on December 12th and 13th.

 

23 November 2022

 

 

 

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