WORKERS at the homelessness charity St Mungo’s have rejected a “divisive” pay offer from management aimed at splitting the workforce and breaking an indefinite strike, their union said today.

Unite said that bosses offered “as little as possible” in an attempt to get the deal “over the line and split the workforce,” warning the charity’s offer would still leave workers in fear of being unable to pay their rent or mortgages.

Workers began an indefinite strike action on June 27.

St Mungo’s increased its pay offer from 2.25 per cent to 3.7 per cent, the union said, against a backdrop of inflation figures of 11.3 per cent.

Workers rejected the offer with 62 per cent against.

According to the annual accounts, chief executive officer pay stands at £189,000 while the lowest-paid front-line worker is on £20,000.  

Over the last 10 years senior managers’ pay has increased by 385 per cent while front-line pay decreased by 30 per cent in real terms.

A Brighton-based worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the dispute is “fundamentally about navigating the cost-of-living crisis.”

They told the Star: “We are asking for a fair and proportionate pay uplift to continue our work, supporting the most vulnerable people in society in their recovery.

“We do this at a time where our CEO earns more than the Prime Minister and senior management take home large salaries.

“It’s quite hard to accept there’s no money for those running front-line services.

“Our dispute is about pay but what has become apparent through this dispute, is that we are also fighting for the culture of our organisation.

“It’s about the recognition of stark pay disparities and pushing back against the creeping corporatisation of the charity sector.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “St Mungo’s latest pay offer was a cynical attempt to divide the workforce and break the strike.

“That tactic has crashed and burned. My advice is to get real and offer a fair pay increase to help these dedicated workers make ends meet.”

Unite regional officer Steve O’Donnell said: “It’s plain wrong that workers on the front line of the fight against homelessness are living in fear of not being able to pay the rent.

“Management need to stop wasting time tinkering and make a real pay offer.”

St Mungo’s chief executive Emma Haddad said that the charity is “extremely disappointed” by the vote as they had gone to “great lengths to put forward a comprehensive 10-part package” for workers, including the pay offer.

She said: “Had the offer been accepted, over 90 per cent of colleagues would have received a minimum increase of £2,975 for the current financial year when added to the annual pay award.

“In percentage terms, this would have meant a pay rise of 7-14 per cent. 

“We have made a series of payments and offers that attempt to support colleagues through this difficult period.

“All our offers have been additional to the annual pay rise.”