UNION leaders urged the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) today to resolve a bitter pay and conditions dispute, as staff enter their fourth week of continuous strike action.

Senior leaders from 19 trade unions and the community urged the ICR’s executive board and trustees to resolve the dispute with Unite in a letter co-ordinated by Strike Map.

The union’s members escalated to continuous strike action over a 3.75 per cent offer and alleged illegal use of agency staff on August 14.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “The ICR might be a world-leading centre of excellence, but when it comes to how it treats its staff, it is at the bottom of the pile.

“It is rolling in money and pays its CEO a fortune yet sees fit to short-change the very staff that ensure its vital work continues.

“Despite the brilliance of the organisation and its talented staff, workers have faced a 16 per cent cut in pay in real terms this decade, whilst the CEO is now earning £457,000 a year.”

Strike Map co-founder Henry Fowler said: “Today’s action shows trade unions stand united behind ICR workers.

“We will not stand by while workers are asked to accept pay cuts. We are committed to fighting for decent pay, secure employment and dignity at work, at the ICR, and across the whole economy.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) was among the health unions that signed the letter.

BMA deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick said: “As members of the BMA know all too well, many of whom work closely with ICR staff at Royal Marsden, these workers are driven by their commitment to their professions, their patients and their research, not simply by pay and conditions.

“But dedication cannot be taken for granted.”

As an important national asset, 20 per cent of ICR’s budget comes from the government via UK Research and Innovation and Research England.

Dr Runswick also called on the government to “use its considerable power and influence to support a resolution and bring an end to this dispute.”

The ICR, UK Research and Innovation and Research England and Department for Business and Trade were contacted for comment.