Call centre and office workers at Age UK will be balloted for strike action over pay, a trade union has announced.
Unite said 200 “low-paid” Age UK employees in London, Blackpool, Newton Abbot in Devon and Warrington in Cheshire would be balloted from tomorrow until 18 November.
It said its members, who work across roles including on the charity’s advice line and Silver Line emotional support and friendship service, have seen real-terms wage cuts of over 15% since 2021.
An Age UK spokesperson said 68% of its workforce had received an above-inflation pay award this year of 4.1% or 4%, including “lower-paid staff working on our phone lines helping older people and our shop-based retail colleagues”.
“This year’s pay award of between 2% and 4.1%, backdated to the start of the financial year in April, represents the absolute maximum level that can be supported responsibly this year,” they told Civil Society.
‘We’re having to ensure our budgets are balanced’
In its announcement, Unite quoted one worker who said staff “feel totally undervalued and let down by management, who appear willing to let our pay continue to fall further behind the cost of living rather than offer a fair increase”.
“Age UK campaigns for pensioners to have financial security,” they said. “Its own staff are facing exactly the same financial pressures, and we deserve a fair pay rise to help keep up with rising costs.”
Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Age UK workers perform important roles in providing services, advice and assurance to vulnerable elderly people every day.
“They’re the backbone of Age UK and cannot swallow another real-terms pay cut. Age UK can afford to make a reasonable pay offer – that’s what needs to happen.”
An Age UK spokesperson told Civil Society that the charity remains committed to engaging constructively and respectfully with Unite.
“We hugely value the contribution and commitment of everyone working for Age UK,” they said.
“Along with many other charities, we’re having to ensure that our budgets are balanced in the face of an extremely tough external environment.
“Our top priority remains ensuring that we continue to support those older people who need us, and that no older person is impacted by any proposed union action.”
