Workers from housing charity Shelter have gone on strike - saying they are in danger of becoming homeless themselves. More than 600 workers were due to walk out at the start of a fortnight of action.
Union Unite said a pay increase of 3% this year has left many staff unable to pay rent. And it said management at the charity had not entered meaningful negotiations.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “It is unforgivable that workers at Shelter find themselves actually being haunted by the prospect of being made homeless. Shelter has sufficient reserves to pay its hardworking and dedicated staff a decent par rise but it has chosen not to.
“Our members at Shelter will receive Unite’s complete and unyielding support in their fight for a better deal."
On Monday morning, strikers were seen on the picket line outside the charity's offices in London's Old Street with placards reading: "Shelter has the funds to pay us a fair rate." Another banner read: "Honk if your wages are too low."
Tim Gutteridge, Shelter’s director of finance and strategy enablement, said: “Regrettably, the cost-of-living crisis is impacting both our colleagues and operational costs, and we are doing everything we can to navigate these challenging economic times. Industrial action is not the outcome we wanted after months of talks with the union, but we fully respect people’s right to strike.
“Some of our services and shops will be temporarily impacted during the strike, but we are making every effort to continue to serve those in need of our help."
Mr Gutteridge said the organisation aimed to "support colleagues through this difficult period" while continuing to deliver frontline services. He urged anybody in need of urgent housing advice to visit Shelter's website.
He added: "This year we gave all staff a pay rise – which for non-management staff means an increase of between 8% and 12.3% – consisting of a 3% consolidated increase and a one-off payment of £1,500. As a Real Living Wage employer, Shelter is also implementing the Real Living Wage Foundation’s increase of 10.1% from December 2022, much earlier than required, benefiting the colleagues who receive this at the earliest opportunity.”
The strike action will end on Friday December 16.
