End in sight for homelessness charity?

Finance | Gareth Jones | 30 Jul 2008

Homelessness charity Shelter appears to be reaching the end of its long-running pay and hours dispute, after it emerged that just five of its 840 members of staff have still to sign up to the new terms and conditions.

Furthermore, only two other staff have left the charity after refusing to sign contracts and seeing out their notice period.

A spokeswoman for Shelter said: “While it has been a difficult time for Shelter over the past few months as changes to pay and conditions have been implemented, we believe the organisation is now in better shape to meet future challenges and continue its vital work helping people in housing need.”

MP speaks out

The campaign to support the workers' position goes on however, with Labour MP John McDonnell raising the issue in the House of Commons last week.

Speaking during the Summer Adjournment debate, in which MPs are allowed eight minutes to raise any issues of their choosing, McDonnell urged the Shelter board to intervene.

He also asked the government to meet the Shelter board to resolve problems with Legal Services Commission funding, which the homelessness charity says is the root cause of the changes.

Following the debate, Shelter has moved to deny McDonnell's claim that its chief executive Adam Sampson gave himself an 18 per cent wage rise prior to the dispute.

“Adam received the same pay rise percentage, ie. 2.75 per cent in April 2006 and a further 0.25 per cent from April 2007, as all staff and gave up his right to increments in January 2007,” said the spokeswoman.

Who's Who: Gareth Jones

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