Shelter Workers Strike
by Andy Locke
(from Scottish Socialist Voice, 14th March 2008)
OVER 100 Workers and Supporters from Shelter, the Housing Charity,
attended a Rally in Glasgow last Wednesday as part of their action
in defence over attacks on their Pay and Conditions. The Rally
was held during a One day Stoppage by affected Shelter Workers
across Britain - with workplaces shut down across the country and
a major demonstration held in London.
Workers are furious that Bosses want to attack their Pay and Conditions, including
downgrading jobs, removal annual pay increases and increasing the
working week - the equivalent of 3 weeks extra work a year with no
pay! Many Workers are lone parents who may have to give up their
jobs due to pay cuts and increased childcare costs. Ironically, others
are now at risk of homelessness themselves, as they cannot meet
their housing costs. Shelter like many modern day charities are
now operating like Bosses under the worst forms of privatisation
- putting profit before people.
Senior Managers say ‘ for sustainable growth’ Shelter need
to rely on Statutory Funding for front line services, rather than traditional
reliance on public donations, and ‘to win competitive contracts
we need to drive down costs’ - Pay Cuts!
Shelter has built its reputation on its independent funding allowing
its independent voice - Workers believe this change in funding
will be like a strait jacket on their ability to speak out!
This is particularly hard for Workers to stomach as it was Shelter’s
radical reputation as a Rights Based Campaigning Organisation which
attracted workers to them in the first place.
Disillusioned Workers cannot believe Management can behave in this
way and morale is at rock bottom.
While managers tell staff there has to be difficult financial decisions
as this is difficult times, Workers are furious that unconfirmed reports
say Senior Managers have awarded themselves a Pay Rise of over £20,000
last year - unconfirmed because Managers who ask Workers to trust
them, will not confirm or deny their Pay Increase! They do confirm
while calling for workers to tighten belts, that Shelter HQ was
refurbished for £600,000 while cutting pay, and new highly
paid management posts to implement this change have been appointed!
Workers are incensed by the hypocrisy!
Currently Management refuse to meet with Workers representatives
and the union have planned a further stoppage for Monday 10th March
with a Rally in Edinburgh. A lobby of the Scottish Parliament is
also scheduled for 12 noon on Wednesday 19 March. Please attend
and contact your MSP to be sure he/she is there.
Stewards call for all supporters to get behind this campaign -
its outcome matters to Workers through out the voluntary sector.
Please send messages of support to union members in Shelter: on shelterstewards@googlemail.com=
and c/o Alan Scott,TGWU,Woodberry,218 Green Lanes, London N4 2HB.
Please send messages of protest to Adam Sampson, Shelter, 88 Old Street,
London EC1V 9HU or adam_sampson@shelter.org.u k and ask
it be forwarded to the Board of Directors and copied to Shelter stewards
at the above address.
Don't sit back - fight back. Join the SSP today!
To keep up to date with our campaigns check
out the website of the Scottish Socialist Voice, the weekly paper of the
SSP.
Read our election manifestos here