Housing workers call off strike after new pay offer

UNISON members at Torus housing in Warrington and St Helens have voted to accept a 3.1 per cent pay offer.
Staff previously voted to take industrial action when Torus offered only two per cent
The latest vote means that staff who work in a range of roles including administrators, customer service advisers, housing officers and maintenance staff, for Golden Gates Housing in Warrington and Helena Partnerships in St Helens will not now take strike action.
Staff will receive the rise in their July pay packets, back-dated to April.  More than 700 workers in Warrington and St Helens are set to benefit from the rise.
Dan Smith, UNISON North West regional organiser said: “This is a good outcome for all concerned and shows the value of staff standing together.
“After years of falling living standards, this pay rise should come close to matching price rises. Staff only got 1.5 per cent last year, and at long last the tide has now turned on pay.   Torus is a cash-rich organisation and we will be putting a strong case for a significant real wage rise next year.
“Torus has set a new benchmark for the sector which we expect others to follow.  Housing associations are important organisations in our communities and they have a responsibility to be good employers.  They should be paying all their staff – not just their top executives – decent pay rises each year.”
Torus is involved in formal discussions with Liverpool Mutual Homes over a potential merger that would make it the largest housing provider in the North West.