Oxfam workers protest

Unite members at Oxfam have taken to the streets to protest today (3 June) outside their London, Manchester and Oxford offices against redundancy and outsourcing plans, and calling on the charity to “Practise what you preach”

The outsourcing targets workers in the charity’s publishing team – which manages the production of globally respected research and reports – and its training team, who develop staff skills.

Oxfam is planning to replace secure jobs with casual work. Staff are being made redundant, but the organisation is proposing their work will then be done by outside agencies or casual staff, without a business case being made for this to workers.

Despite comments to external media that it is “not preparing to outsource in-house roles”, Oxfam has stated clearly in writing to Unite members that staff will be made redundant and their work outsourced.

The proposals are currently at the consultation stage. The outsourcing protest is part of a campaign by the union to pressure Oxfam to roll back a wider redundancy programme and save as many jobs as possible.

National Officer, Andy Murray, with Unite members

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Any corporation that threw out its permanent workers in order to replace them with casual labour or agencies would rightly face principled criticism from Oxfam – yet that is what it is doing to our members.

“This situation is totally unacceptable and our members have Unite’s full support throughout their campaign.”

Workers fear more permanent roles could be scrapped if Oxfam continues with its plan. The outsourcing redundancies are part of a wider programme, which will see Oxfam cut 265 jobs.

Organising the London protest was Unite Oxfam rep, Richard Stanforth. Richard, is a Senior Policy Advisor at the charity, said, “We have had scores of Oxfam staff members protesting today, and had lots of support from fellow Unite members here in London and at the other sites.

“It is clear that this outsourcing plan is a mistake and today we have been calling on Oxfam to think again and come up with a proposal that fits in with Oxfam’s values and commitment to decent jobs and workers rights.

“However government cuts to the international aid budget, that have had a direct impact on the communities around the world, have also impacted on charities that support these people. The government could have easily avoided these cuts by increasing taxes on the wealthiest in our society.”

Richard Stanforth, Unite rep at Oxfam

Last week Unite members launched a petition against the cuts, which can be signed here. 

Regional coordinating officer Jamie Major said: “We’re calling on all staff and supporters to sign our petition demanding Oxfam keep these jobs in-house. The more people who sign, the stronger our voice will be.”

“The plans undermine workers’ rights and flies in the face of Oxfam values and previous messaging. We are determined to keep fighting to save jobs at Oxfam.”

Today’s protests were part of a wider campaign to save hundreds of jobs at Oxfam, and Unite will be putting more proposals to the charity over the coming weeks to save jobs and avoid compulsory redundancy. 

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Mark Thomas