More than 1,200 workers at health and social care charity Change Grow Live (CGL) are being balloted for strike action in a dispute over pay.
The ballot, organised by the union Unite, covers staff at almost 150 sites across England and Scotland. It open on 26 June and closes on 10 August.
CGL provides services for people affected by drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Unite said many frontline staff, including counsellors, recovery workers, nurses and psychologists, were paid the minimum living wage. Over the past decade, they have experienced real-terms pay cuts of between 15% and 24%.
The union also highlighted pay increases for senior executives, claiming the deputy chief executive received a £55,000 pay rise in one year, while the chief financial officer received an increase of £21,000.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: ‘It is an absolute disgrace that while management are being rewarded with high pay rises, specialist staff on the frontline are struggling to afford to essentials.
‘Fair pay for staff at CGL is essential to protecting both workers and the communities they serve. This situation cannot continue and Unite will give our members our full support during this dispute.’
A survey of staff carried out last year found 42% had considered using a food bank in the previous 12 months, while 46% had taken on a second job. More than half said they had struggled to pay their rent or mortgage.
Kate Attwool, regional offer at Unite, added: ‘CGL workers are often called the fourth emergency service – they work with some of the most vulnerable and challenging members of our society. Our members at CGL care deeply about the people they work with and industrial action is a last resort for them.’
The development comes just days after resident doctors called off planned strike action following a government pay offer. Under the plans, resident doctors would see an average pay rise of 4.9% this year, making them 35.2% better off than four years ago.
Attwool added that ‘years of real terms pay cuts’ have left CGL staff ‘financially struggling and with no choice but to ballot for strikes.’
‘It is time CGL management recognised our members’ skills and hard work by coming back to negotiations with a meaningful pay offer.’
A spokesperson from CGL said: ‘Many people across Change Grow Live are struggling with the gap between what they earn and the cost of living.
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