Pay dispute looms at Stonham Housing
15 June 2006
Amicus members at Stonham Housing Group are
being balloted for industrial action over a 2.5% pay offer for care
and support staff, when other employees across the rest of Home
Group have been offered a pay deal of 2.7%.
Although the two sides have agreed to ACAS talks, the company
is saying that they are not willing to improve their offer so
Amicus is preparing to ballot for industrial action.
Amicus say there is no defence for paying members of the Home
Group, Stonham's parent organisation, at different rates. Around
2,700 employees of the Home Group's total 4,000 staff are being
offered the lower pay increase.
Amicus' National Officer, Rachael Maskell, said: "Stonham has
dragged its feet throughout the negotiation process and treated its
own employees and Amicus with absolute contempt.
“We believe this is an attempt to attack unionised members
employed by the group and deliberately undermine the partnership
relationship we have with the organisation.
"We want to enter into constructive negotiations with Stonham
at ACAS but if, as they say, they have no intention of improving
their offer we will have no alternative but to ballot our members
for industrial action."
David Jones, Amicus' Organiser for Stonham Housing Group,
said:"We fail to understand how and why part of the organisation
can be offered 2.7% and others are being offered just 2.5%.
"Amicus has 1,100 members at Stonham who do a difficult and
demanding job. They deserve the same pay rate increase as everyone
else, like the service users they work with our member deserve to
be treated with a degree of dignity and respect. We will accept
nothing else."
All Home Group staff, including Stonham Housing, have a
contract with the Home Group.
Amicus submitted a claim for 3.75% or £600, whichever was
greater, for members. Members provide care and supporting
housing for the excluded and vulnerable groups in society including
young people leaving care, women fleeing domestic violence and
people with drug, alcohol and mental health problems.
Amicus submitted their pay claim back in December 2005 and yet
Stonham did not meet with the trade union until the 4 April
2006.
- Ends -
For further information please contact Catherine Bithell in
the Amicus press office on 020 7 420 8909 or 07958 473 224
