Shelter under fire for paying 'derisory' wages to staff

The charity Shelter, which regularly campaigns against lettings agencies and landlords, is bracing itself for a strike next week - and it’s accused of ‘derisory’ pay levels.

Three days of strike action begin on Tuesday by 400 members of the union Unite, who work for the charity. 

The action follows what the union calls a ‘derisory’ pay offer of a one per cent pay increase plus a one off one per cent payment. 

“Unite members are seeking an increase of 3.5 per cent the retail price index (RPI) as of April 2018 (the annual pay date) or a flat rate of a £1,100 increase for all workers” says the union.

It claims that its members at Shelter have suffered “a real terms pay cut of 11 per cent since 2010 because of a series of below inflation pay increases.” 

It adds: “Shelter recorded a surplus of £1 million last year and has £15.7 million in reserves.The strikes could seriously affect the organisation’s ability to offer advice and support to the homeless and people in precarious housing in the pre-Christmas period.”

Unite pledges that is the dispute is not resolved, it will hold further strike action in the new year.