‘Tremendous solidarity’

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 scheduled strike due to begin tomorrow (December 11) has been called off.

Unite and Shelter’s management held extended negotiations last Friday (December 7) in a last ditch attempt to avert the strike action.

As a result of the talks the workers were offered an improved overall offer of four per cent structured as; 2.25 per cent consolidated, plus 1.75 per cent unconsolidated paid at a flat rate, to the value of approximately £500 for each member of staff. Unite’s members today (December 10) overwhelmingly accepted the offer.

The new pay offer was a substantial improvement on the one per cent increase and an additional one per cent one off payment that staff had previously been offered.

Since Unite began the industrial action dispute there has been a surge of union membership at Shelter with over 100 new members joining the union.

“This is an excellent result that has been achieved by the tremendous solidarity and determination of our members,” said Unite regional officer Peter Storey. “Thankfully Shelter’s management came to their senses and made a realistic offer.

“The recent surge in membership demonstrated just how concerned workers were about low pay at Shelter.

“Hopefully the improved pay offer will result in improved industrial relations at Shelter and we can build on this pay increase to end the low pay culture currently experienced by the charity’s staff.”