Charity staff strike

Staff at London based housing charity St Mungo’s Broadway have voted by an overwhelming 95.9 per cent in favour of strike action.

The Unite members are outraged at significant and detrimental changes imposed by new management through ‘retrospective consultation’.

“This ballot result is unprecedented in this sector”, said Nicky Marcus, Unite regional officer. “It shows how passionately our members feel about protecting not only their jobs but their clients and the future of their charity.”

The charity is formed by a recent merger between Broadway and St Mungo’s. Many of the staff have worked for St Mungo’s for decades. Some of them are actually ex-service users themselves.

“They more than anyone understand the value of the work and know that you can’t run a charity caring for the most vulnerable people in society as though it’s a city bank,” said Nicky Marcus.

Today, Wednesday October 8, the 335 members met with Len McCluskey, Unite general secretary to determine strike dates through a democratic vote.

“We have repeatedly asked management to sit down with us to negotiate,” added Nicky Marcus. “Management, in response, simply repeat that they do not accept we are in dispute. Perhaps they will now.”