Livv Housing Group workers are due to launch their longest walkout yet, which has stemmed from severe pay disputes.
The strike will be taking place from Monday 3rd February until Friday 28th February and will see staff walking out across the entire organisation.
Based in the Merseyside area, the organisation have delivered 13,000 homes since they were founded in July 2002. It is expected that the impending strike will majorly affect households, with the majority unable to report any issues that crop up with their home.
The news, which was revealed by Unite and UNISON, follows strikes that took place in October, November and January. These involved repair, maintenance and call centre staff.
Workers have decided to strike as a result of experiencing years of below-inflation pay increases. Previously the organisation have rejected a 5% pay rise because it fails to reverse the real terms pay cuts.
To give context, in March last year Livv Housing reported reserves of £110.6million.
‘After years of below-inflation pay rises, Livv Housing workers have had enough,’ Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary said. ‘They know Livv Housing has more than enough money to address the real terms pay cuts they have endured.
‘Their determination to win a fair pay deal is rock solid and they have Unite’s full backing for as long as it takes.’
John Sheppard, regional officer at Unite added: ‘The actions of Livv Housing’s leadership are directly responsible for the disruption caused to tenants.
‘They could end the strikes tomorrow by putting forward a fair deal, something Livv Housing has more than enough money to do.’
Echoing a similar tone, James Robinson, branch secretary for UNISON Knowsley, remarked: ‘Staff need a decent wage rise after seeing their pay slide for years. They put forward a reasonable and affordable claim.
‘Strikes are always a last resort, but workers have been left with no other option. They want to return their jobs and support residents, but they can’t until Livv Housing’s management holds proper negotiations.’
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