Yahoo News Housing firm accused of 'underhand tactics' as strike intensifies
Union officials have accused a Merseyside housing association of 'underhand tactics' as hundreds of workers started strike action over an ongoing pay dispute. Unite the Union North West said Livv Housing's (LH) use of third-party contractors during the workers' strike was 'disgraceful' and a clear attempt to 'undermine' the effectiveness of the action.
However, a spokesperson for LH said: "We deliver our repairs service in a blended way – using external support where necessary. We will continue to do what we can to ensure service delivery is not impacted by any further industrial action."
According to union officials, the dispute is a result of continual 'below inflation pay rises' culminating in staff rejecting the most recent 5% pay increase proposed by Livv Housing's leadership team. Workers subsequently voted to initiate strikes with four more days of industrial action planned for this month - including tomorrow.
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Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Livv Housing workers have had enough of being underpaid by an organisation that has amassed tens of millions of pounds. Unite is backing them 100% as they strike to win a fair pay deal."
These sentiments were echoed by James Robinson, branch secretary of Knowsley Unison who said: "After years of real terms pay cuts and attacks on terms and conditions, these workers have taken a stand and said enough is enough.
"Livv Housing Group reports multi-million profits with the CEO paid more than a quarter of a million pounds a year. This can be settled, but so far Livv Housing is choosing not to.”
Livv housing is one of the leading providers of social housing in Knowsley and manages and maintains more than 13,000 properties across the Liverpool City Region and the North West - primarily in the Knowsley area.
A spokesperson for Livv Housing said: "Our 5% pay offer would mean a universal 21.5% increase in pay over the last 5 years. In recent years, we've also made a £1400 cost of living payment to all colleagues.
"We carry out benchmarking every three years on all roles, with some colleagues in our operational teams receiving between 2% and 4% salary increases, in addition to the pay award and cost of living support."
The spokesperson for LH added: "Services are running as normal, but we are working hard to address any delays as and when they arise and striving to keep standards consistent."
Hundreds of Livv Housing's repair, maintenance and call centre workers began targeted periods of strike action in October that have now escalated. Union members will take fresh strike action on November 22, 25, 28, 29 and 30 and December 1.
According to Unite, the ongoing industrial action has caused customer services delays and a backlog of repair and maintenance jobs. Furthermore, the union said repair and maintenance workers have had to fix 'faulty and potentially unsafe repairs by third party contractors' brought into 'undermine' the strike action.
Unite regional officer John Sheppard said: "Livv Housing’s disgraceful attempts to undermine the strike action by bringing in third party contractors has backfired.
"Not only have our members been required to fix faulty repair jobs that have simply added to the disruption. Livv’s underhand tactics have also strengthened their resolve. The only way to end this dispute is for Livv to put forward an offer our members will accept.”
