Shelter Strike - union balloting charity staff on next step

A strike by members of Unite, employed by the charity Shelter, has been suspended pending a ballot on a new pay offer.
The 600 workers were taking part in a fortnight long strike over pay, which began on December 5.

However, following protracted talks at arbitration service ACAS last week, an improved pay offer was made and the union says that “as an act of good faith” it has the remainder of the planned strike.

Unite is balloting members on the revised pay offer.

Unite regional officer Peter Storey says: “Unite has been crystal clear from the outset that we believed that this dispute could and should be resolved through negotiations.

“Following the talks at ACAS an improved offer was made and therefore Unite has suspended action to allow its members to be balloted on the proposed deal.”

Previously the union claimed Shelter’s management had imposed a pay deal which was a real terms pay cut of 11 per cent with the true inflation rate.

The dispute had become increasingly bitter as the charity’s management had - according to Unite - refused to enter into “meaningful negotiations” with union reps.

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