The strike over pay due to take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at the charity Action for Children, by members of Unite and UNISON, has been suspended.
This is to allow talks to continue with the conciliation service Acas. Both unions met the charity’s management again at Acas this afternoon.
Unite and UNISON consulted their Action for Children representatives about the latest position this morning (Tuesday). They signed an agreement with charity managers that would extend the period for possible industrial action by four weeks to 10 April.
As a result, Unite and UNISON have withdrawn the notice for strike action for tomorrow and informed their members that it has been called off.
Unite regional officer Andrew Murray said: “We will now continue our talks under the auspices of Acas in a constructive fashion to achieve an equable settlement for the hard-working staff at the charity.”
Unison national officer (community and voluntary sector) Simon Watson said: “We remain determined to resolve this dispute and get the best deal for Action for Children workers who are dedicated to looking after children and families.”
The crux of the dispute is that the charity originally intended to impose a one per cent pay award for 2015/16, with no cost of living rise for half of the 5,000- strong workforce. It also removed contractual pay increments for new starters and cut mileage rates.
The unions said that in the last four years Action for Children has made an average surplus (profit) of £5.4m each year.
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact Shaun Noble in the Unite press office on 020 3371 2060 or 07768 693940, or Liz Chinchen in UNISON’s press office on 07778 158175
