Unite the Union have voted to accept our pay offer, bringing the strike and pay dispute to an end. Here is our statement:
Emma Haddad, Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, said:
“Following a vote, Unite the Union has confirmed its members have accepted the new pay offer package we put forward on 18 August 2023.
“In this offer, everyone who is on up to and including point 36 on the National Joint Council (NJC) pay scale will receive £1,200 per year as a St Mungo’s allowance in addition to the annual pay award, which will be a minimum of £1,925 this year.
“This means over 90% of staff will receive a total minimum increase of £3,125 in 2023-24. This works out as a 7-15% pay increase, depending on salary. The total cost to St Mungo’s will be just under £6m.
The agreement also includes a number of non-pay items, including an increase in annual leave.
“This vote resolves the dispute and ends a period of unprecedented strike action, and we understand Unite is asking people to return to work on Monday 4 September 2023. We are relieved with the outcome as we know this has been a difficult time for everyone involved. We look forward to working together with our colleagues and our partners as we continue to support people recovering from, or at risk of, homelessness.”
Notes to Editors/background information
As well as the £3,125 pay rise, St Mungo’s is offering:
- An additional three days of annual leave for everyone.
- A permanent increase in the mileage allowance.
- A review of our wider benefits package, with a commitment to ensure modern and competitive policies around issues like maternity and paternity leave, carers’ leave, sickness, and compassionate leave.
- The removal of the probationary period when moving to a new role internally.
- A commitment to an external review of spot rate pay (pay outside of the NJC scale), and ongoing, regular conversations in the Joint National Committee regarding senior roles and senior pay.
- A commitment to establish a wellbeing fund for teams to access, working with colleagues to define and create it.
- A commitment to continue lobbying, with partners, for better funding across the homelessness sector.
- A commitment to sharing financial information quarterly with the whole organisation. Unite commit to use this information with the intention of working together to avoid future disputes.
- Early payment of the 2023-24 NJC pay award that is still being negotiated, with a view to paying any difference once the final award is agreed, in line with our recognition agreement.
- A freeze on Executive Director and CEO pay for the current year.
