Working holiday

While most people will spend time with their friends and family over the Christmas season, nearly a million workers will have to work.

Among these are faith workers, many of whom do not have days off over the festive period and get no extra pay.

But as Canon Steven Saxby, a vicar who also serves as Unite chair for the Faith Workers Branch explains, clergy are not motivated by money.

Still, their pay is modest and like so many people, has taken a hit over the years because of the ever increasing cost of living. Because of this, the TUC have calculated they’ve experienced a real terms £800 pay cut from last year.

“On average we’ve had a pay increase of 1 per cent but that’s not enough to keep up with inflation,” Saxby explains.

He notes too that, for example, the Church of England sets pay according to national guidelines, but there’s local variation on pay since the stipend level is up to each diocese.

“There’s still lots to be thankful for because we get many benefits,” Saxby says. “We’re provided with housing in tied accommodation.”

This can be a blessing and a challenge, since clergy mostly live in the homes they are provided with, which are often big, so at this time of year, their heating bills can get quite high.

While Christmas may be a time of joy and good cheer, Saxby explains that it can be challenging for faith workers.

“Many of us may be surrounded by friends and family, but let’s not forget too that Christmas can be a very lonely time of year for just as many people,” he said.

“Faith workers are at the frontline dealing with Christmas loneliness, helping people who are also very vulnerable.

“You’ll have many people come in who may have lost a loved one during the Christmas season, so we support those who are grieving, too.”

“It is of course rewarding to be supporting and comforting them but it can also be very stressful and emotionally draining,” Saxby added. “Most of us want to just relax at home over Christmas but for us that’s not an option.”

Although clergy aren’t usually associated with unions in the public mind, Unite actually represents over 1,500 faith workers, and Saxby explains the branch is incredibly diverse.

“Not only do we have Christian faith workers but people of all religions – imams, rabbis and more.”

One challenge faced by clergy from an industrial point of view is that they are not considered employees, but are classified as office-holders, and so do not have many of the employment rights that most of us do.

But the Unite Faith Workers Branch has risen to this challenge by pushing for employment protections from their churches.

“We seek these protections from our churches on a voluntary basis,” Saxby explains. “We have had lots of conversations and they’ve been very fruitful – we’ve made great progress on things like ‘duty of care’, on mediations and on disciplinary processes.”

Saxby wishes all Unite members a very happy Christmas. You can find out more about Unite’s Faith Workers Branch here.