Workers striking over pay at Citizens Advice in Hull and the East Riding are set for protests as part of the escalation of their walk out, their union has said.
Protests are planned at Citizens Advice offices in Bridlington and Goole on Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6 as part of the strike involving more than 60 staff.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of their union Unite, said many of the workers were on poverty pay and vowed to continue the dispute until the charity comes to the table.
A Citizens Advice spokesperson said they had offered an affordable pay settlement in light of its financial constraints when workers first walked out in July.
The fresh walk outs which began on Tuesday, August 29 mean that Citizens Advice services were unavailable yesterday, today and from Tuesday to Friday next week.
The strike began after the charity, which offers struggling people financial and legal advice, refused to increase pay in line with scales used in previous years.
Unite stated the charity could afford the consolidated payment of £1,925 to workers on all grades for 2022 which was recommended by National Joint Council (NJC) scales.
The union added administration staff had seen real terms pay cuts of 27 per cent over the last decade, falling from £5,000 above the minimum wage to 40p above it.
Sharon Graham said the charity had reneged on two decades of working practices by denying staff the recommended deal.
The general secretary said:
“It is appalling behaviour from an organisation that clearly has the cash reserves to pay.
“Our members have the full force of the union behind them, and this dispute will not end until Citizens Advice does the right thing and implements the pay deal.”
Regional official Mike Wilkinson said the decision not to go with the recommended pay deal was unethical and a stain on the charity’s reputation.
Hull and East Riding Citizens Advice’s spokesperson said they were aware that the charity’s staff were not immune from the cost of living crisis affecting those they help.
The spokesperson said:
“We want Citizens Advice Hull and East Riding to be a place where everyone feels valued.
“Every day we see the huge strain the cost of living crisis is putting on people.
“We know our staff who provide a vital service supporting our communities.
“We put forward what we believe to be an affordable pay offer within the financial and governance constraints we’re working under.
“Nevertheless, we have listened and are in continued negotiations with the union who have a revised pay offer to put to its members, we await their response.
“We acknowledge this is difficult for everyone.
“We will continue with our negotiations with the union and we hope an outcome everyone is happy with can be reached swiftly.”
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