Glasgow MSP wades into pay row after ‘ miserly offer’ forces staff onto picket line
A GLASGOW MSP has waded into the pay dispute at housing and homelessness charity Shelter Scotland.
Staff at the local branch of the organisation have joined colleagues from across the UK in two weeks of unprecedented strike action after having a three per cent pay increase ‘ imposed’.
Now Scottish Labour’s Paul Sweeney has stepped in to try and resolve the row, penning a strongly worded letter to the charity’s CEO Polly Neate backing workers and asking for an improvement on the ‘ measly’ offer to staff.
He said: “I felt it important to speak out and show solidarity with staff at Shelter Scotland who have been forced into industrial action after being offered a miserly rise amidst a cost of living crisis.
“I’ve seen first hand the incredible work they do. They are exceptional at their job, and have my full and unequivocal support.”
Bosses at the charity have been accused by the union of having refused to enter meaningful negotiations with representatives of Unite.
Offices of the charity affected by the strike include its London head office, as well as those in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Blackburn, Norwich, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Plymouth, Leeds and Sheffield.
The Glasgow- list MSP expressed his ‘ grave concern’ about the strike in a letter to the bosses at the charity’s London headquarters.
He said: “I am sure you will agree with me when I say that staff at Shelter and the very best of us. Time and time again I have witnessed them do above and beyond to make sure some of the most vulnerable people are looked after in their time of need.
“It’s intolerable and utterly unconscionable to me that following a breakdown in pay negotiations, they have been left with no option but to take industrial action.
“People need Shelter Scotland more than ever right now and staff need the support of their employer at this difficult time. I would encourage you to engage with staff and attempt to resolve this impasse.
“It is in everyone’s interests that the dispute is resolved amicably.”
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said that members will receive ‘ complete and unyielding’ support from the union in their fight for a better deal.
She added: “It is unforgivable that workers at Shelter find themselves actually being haunted by the prospect of being made homeless.
“Shelter has sufficient reserves to pay its hardworking and dedicated staff a decent pay rise but it has chosen not to.
“Our members at Shelter will receive Unite’s complete and unyielding support in their fight for a better deal.”
Industrial action is set to continue this week, with further strikes looming if no resolution is reached.
Tim Gutteridge, director of finance and strategy enablement at Shelter, said staff had been given a 3% pay increase and a further one- off payment of £ 1,500 this year.
Shelter will also be implementing the Real Living Wage Foundation’s increase of 10.1% from December.
He added: “Regrettably the cost of living crisis is impacting both our colleagues and operational costs. Industrial action is not the outcome we wanted after months of talks with the union, but we respect people’s right to strike.
“Our ambition remains trying to support colleagues through this difficult period, while being able to deliver our frontline services and campaign work.”