News / st mungo's
Bristol homelessness charity staff extend strike ‘indefinitely’ over pay
Workers at Bristol homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, have entered their third week of strike action in a dispute over pay.
Staff from the rough sleeping prevention service say their pay is not in line with inflation, and have demanded a ten per cent pay rise from St Mungo’s bosses.
The charity has around 1,700 members of staff and runs a number of services across Bristol, including outreach, women’s shelters, Somewhere Safe to Stay (SSTS), flex support and a recovery college.
is needed now More than ever
Workers at St Mungo’s office in Stokes Croft stood outside with banners on Friday, reading “homelessness workers should not face homelessness” and “frontline workers deserve more”.
A union rep for Unite, who preferred to remain anonymous, works for St Mungo’s rough sleeping prevention service in Bristol.
“We are on strike because we want more money,” he told Bristol24/7.
“A lot of my colleagues are using food banks and are really struggling with their rent.
Some staff said they are relying on food banks to make ends meet – photo: Mia Vines Booth
“Prices are going up and wages aren’t going up to meet them. I’m out here in solidarity and hoping to get more of a fair wage.
“We work with vulnerable people and we need to be there and be present for them. We don’t want to disrupt their lives any more than we have to,” he added.
The service, which is commissioned by Bristol City Council, takes in clients and helps them find somewhere to live, which includes setting up[ bank accounts, signposting them to services, setting them up on universal credit and getting them on housing lists.
“There is a high turnover of staff and this is bad for clients because they don’t want to have to explain their story ten times to ten different people,” he said.
“(This pay rise) is for us to be able to give our jobs 110 per cent without having to worry about our own stuff and make the experience better for our clients. “
Staff at St Mungo’s have been striking since May 30, and will be striking indefinitely – which refers to any end date before the 30 September, as this is the mandated period of time that Unite can call a strike within.
Responding to the strikes, Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said: “It was unexpected to hear that Unite the Union has extended its period of strike action indefinitely.
“We are in the middle of discussions aimed at finding a solution and had a constructive meeting with Unite representatives on June 12.”
“Bringing an end to this unprecedented period of industrial action remains our key priority, so we can all focus on working together to support people at risk of, or recovering from, homelessness.”
Main photo: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
- Shelter staff begin strike over fears of becoming homeless
- Hope for Bristol’s young queer homeless
- From homelessness to dreams of becoming a lecturer
- Bristol junior doctors start three days of strike action
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