Drug and alcohol support workers will be demonstrating outside the headquarters of employer Addaction today (Wednesday), over broken pay promises, says UNISON.
Fifteen employees from Leigh and Wigan – who are midway through a five-day strike – will be in the capital to force the charity to listen to their demands for fair pay.
The striking workers – who were employed by the NHS before being transferred to Addaction’s control – are angry it went back on promises to keep their pay in line with NHS colleagues.
Staff have been missing out on around £1,000 a year after Addaction refused to pass on a three-year pay rise awarded to NHS workers in 2018, says UNISON.
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Addaction won’t be allowed to hunker down in its London offices and pretend this dispute isn’t happening – we’re bringing the fight to senior managers.
“These highly trained workers do important, difficult jobs and deserve to be paid properly. It’s a slap in the face to know that colleagues doing similar jobs are earning up to £1,000 a year more.
“Addaction has reneged on its pay promises and left staff out of pocket and angry. It has to sort out this clear injustice now.”
Notes to editors:
– Staff from Leigh and Wigan will be demonstrating outside Addaction’s offices at Gate House, 1-3 St John’s Square, EC1M 4DH from noon until 2pm.
– Addaction workers began a five-day strike on Monday 4 November. The strike ends on Friday 9 November.
– Picket lines will be in place from 8am until approximately noon throughout the week at the Coops Building, Dorning Street, Wigan WN1 1HR and at Kennedy House, Brunswick Avenue, Leigh WN7 2PJ.
– Previous strike days were held on 23 August, 11, 12 September, and 9, 10, 11 October.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public and private sectors.
Media Contacts:
Conor McGurran M: 07817 120903 E: c.mcgurran@unison.co.uk
Garfield Myrie T: 0207 121 5546 M: 07432 741565 E: g.myrie@unison.co.uk
