St Mungo’s ‘corporate’ bosses provoke indefinite strike action

Workers at the homeless charity St Mungo’s will extend their month long strike indefinitely thanks to management’s ‘do nothing’ approach to negotiations.

This momentous decision has been provoked by the on-going indifference of management and trustees who callously refuse to acknowledge the struggle front line workers face to pay the bills. After tax and deductions frontline workers take home less than £20,000 a year. Many of the workers are now in fear themselves after being unable to pay their rent or mortgage on their current poverty wages.

The indifference of the management and trustees to their own staff smacks of the corporatisation of the charity sector.

The month long strike ends 26 June and the indefinite strike begins on 27 June. Unite balloted over 500 workers across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said, “St Mungo’s workers are taking indefinite strike action because management and the trustees are displaying astonishing callousness. This attitude is corporate Britain meets the charity sector. The workers know St Mungo’s can afford to improve front line workers’ pay. That’s why the blame for this indefinite strike lies with St Mungo’s management and Board.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that the workers have Unite’s ongoing support.

The charity’s has stubbornly refused to improve its pitiful 2.25% offer despite St Mungo’s having £16 million in cash and substantial reserves.

The homeless charity still hasn’t resolved a pay dispute going back to 2021 in the midst of falling pay and a cost of living crisis.

Activists have also begun staging protests outside the workplaces of Trustees. They cannot wash their hands of responsibility. The Trustee must demand action.

Unite regional officer Steve O’Donnell added, “The workers at St Mungo’s are sending a powerful message to management and trustees. They haven’t taken this decision likely – they have been driven to this.

“The charity’s CEO Emma Haddad’s misleading claims about St Mungo’s pay offer is only making the situation worse.

“There’s no doubt that St Mungo’s is disgracefully failing the homeless by its ‘do nothing’ approach to negotiations. Let’s hope management will now listen.”

By Ciaran Naidoo