Unison has criticised the Salvation Army’s plans to bring in regional pay for its homelessness hostels staff in the West Midlands, claiming the model is unfair and will put many employees at risk of losing their own homes.
The process, which the charity has dubbed Embrace4Change, changes the staffing structure within homelessness services including roles, job descriptions and responsibilities.
The new regional pay structure will mean “severe” cuts in pay and conditions for many workers at hostels in Birmingham, Coventry and Stoke, claims Unison, and it is calling on the charity to start talks to explore alternatives.
Unison West Midlands regional organiser Andrew Johnson said: “These changes will result in workers doing the same job in different areas of the country for different levels of pay, which in itself is unfair.
“However, it is aiming to achieve this by implementing severe cuts to pay and service conditions without properly considering the effects on its own workforce and the services it provides to vulnerable people locally.
“The charity says the changes are to secure contracts for homelessness services paid for by the Supporting People Grant. The irony is that the impact of these cuts upon its own staff will put many on the poverty line and some at risk of losing their own homes.”
Leaflet opposes plans
The union has published a leaflet attacking the proposals and urging members to contact the charity, local MP and councillors to object to the changes.
The leaflet states: “Unison cannot believe that an organisation with the beliefs and values of the Salvation Army is doing this to its loyal and committed staff.
“No-one works for the Salvation Army to become rich. It should be remembered that well-motivated and reasonably paid staff are the key to delivering a quality service for those in our society in such desperate need.”
Charity: New payscales forced by funding changes
The Salvation Army said the proposals were required to respond to changes in funding provision for homelessness services from both central and local government.
A spokeswoman said: “More than 12 months ago, in advance of any formal consultation, we embarked on a series of information days around the UK, entitled ‘Embrace4Change’ to include the 1,300 staff in our homelessness services unit and allow them to share their feelings and express any ideas they may have to help us create a more effective model of service delivery. This listening process proved successful when we entered formal consultations as staff made valuable contributions to the approved recommendations.”
She went on: “The main recommendations included changes to the current staffing model and the introduction of zonal pay rates based on relevant market rates. We have taken steps to introduce ‘cushioning’ to help impact the introduction of zonal salaries. We have also agreed, through consultation, that all changes will not be implemented until 1 October 2013.
“We have had several meetings with local leadership of Unison to make them aware of our plight as church and charity and our bid to remodel our current services to ensure we can protect the future of our homelessness services.”
