Unite press release & calling notice

 What: Local MP, Activists and councillors join striking St Mungo’s workers in Brighton 

When: Friday 9 June 11.30am – 1.30pm.

Where: Jubilee Clock Tower, North Street, Brighton 

Activists & local politicians join St Mungo’s workers on strike in Brighton 

Unite union rally on Friday in Brighton to mark two weeks of strike action at St Mungo’s homeless charity. 

St Mungo’s provides services to Brighton & Hove council to support the homeless in Brighton.

Local activists, councillors and the local Labour MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle will show their support for St Mungo’s workers in Brighton who have reached a half point in their month long strike.

Fury amongst the workforce has ensured solid support for the strike action over a pitiful 2.25% wage hike offered by the homeless charity.

St Mungo’s refuses to share its full accounts with Unite, but it can’t hide its annual audited reports, which have shown a cash balance of around £22 million for two years in a row, with reserves well above the charity’s target.

St Mungo’s provides services to Brighton & Hove council to support the homeless in Brighton. But the failure of management to offer a fair pay deal means those services have ground to a halt.

After tax and deductions frontline workers take home less than £20,000 a year. Many of the workers are now in fear themselves after being unable to pay their rent or mortgage on their current poverty wages.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Unite members at St Mungo’s have shown impressive resilience and determination. Activists from across the South East will be joining the workers to show solidarity.

“St Mungo’s workers are on the frontline fighting for the homeless and they deserve the dignity of being able to afford to pay their rent and keep a roof over their own heads. 

Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, Russell - Moyle said: “The 7.5% real-terms pay cut being offered by St Mungo's is shameful. I'll be on the picket line tomorrow with workers asking for a fair deal in an incredibly challenging industry. They have my full support.”

The homeless charity still hasn’t even resolved a pay dispute going back to 2021 in the midst of falling pay and a cost of living crisis. 

Unite regional officer Steve O’Donnell said: “Brighton isn’t getting the services the homeless desperately need because St Mungo’s won’t pay its workers fairly.  The strike is rock solid so management must realise that they cannot continue to ignore the workforce. This failing Charity needs to make a better pay offer and end this dispute.

ENDS 

Notes to the Editor 

Unite balloted over 500 workers across southern England including in London, Bristol, Brighton, Oxford, Bournemouth and Reading.

Since 2013, St Mungo’s chief executives have seen their average pay at the charity spiral by 77 per cent – up from £107,000 to more than £189,000 (according to the latest published accounts). St Mungo’s won’t reveal the salary of the newly appointed CEO, Emma Haddad. 

In the last ten years, the pay of senior management at St Mungo’s has increased by 350 per cent. In stark contrast, over a similar time frame, the real value of the wages of St Mungo’s workers, many of whom work on the streets helping the homeless, has plummeted by 25 per cent. A frontline worker earns around £26,000. 

For more information please contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Email: Ci[email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 

Unite is the leading union in the UK and Ireland, dedicated to defending and improving members' jobs, pay and conditions. The general secretary is Sharon Graham