Notting Hill staff vote to strike
Trade union members at Notting Hill Housing Group have voted to go on strike.
Nearly 57 per cent of more than 200 Unison members at Notting Hill Housing Group voted in the ballot and more than 93 per cent of them backed strike action.
A date for the strike will be set in the next few weeks. Staff voted for industrial action over proposed changes to terms and conditions.
Mary Powell, Unison Housing Associations branch secretary, said: ‘It is highly unusual for Unison members in London housing associations to take industrial action, however NHHT has left its staff with little choice. The ballot result is clear.’
She said the branch and its wider membership were completely behind Unison members at Notting Hill.
But she added: ‘The employer does still, however, have an opportunity to return to the negotiating table so long as they genuinely want to reach an agreement.’
A spokesperson for Notting Hill said it was sorry that ‘some people feel this way’ but that it respected their right to take action. She added that the majority of staff ‘have chosen to sign their contracts and move forward’.
‘We will do our absolute best to make sure that any form of industrial action does not disrupt our services to residents,’ she added.
‘Our view is that the new terms and conditions at Notting Hill are a good offer that provides everyone with enough flexibility to achieve a good work/life balance and meet the needs of our customers.
‘It is essential that we transform our business to improve our customer service and change is an inevitable part of this process.’
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Readers' comments (14)
Dave Hollins | 26/02/2010 11:52 am
Most tenants have no confidence in the chief executive of Notting Hill because of her constant utterances about reducing their rights and ending security of tenure and her close links with the Tory leadership at Hammersmith and Ian Duncan Smith. Now it appears the staff have little confidence in the management either.
Notting Hill is a very important housing provider in London. Isn't it about time the TSA stepped in and got it back on track?
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gollygosh | 26/02/2010 12:22 pm
Will anyone notice.....
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Plonk | 26/02/2010 2:17 pm
Any hope that they might stay out long enough to bankrupt the company and make my day.
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NHH Employee | 26/02/2010 7:55 pm
This is all about manoeuvring NHHT into a position where future mergers and acquisitions are smoother and better deals can be secured on private capital investment (recent briefings from the Board have disclosed an interest in raising funds through bond issues).
In short, we are talking about growth. Why? Well, there is no evidence that this will result in a better product for tenants. So it must be about the personal ambitions of the chief executive and some Board members. Well, that’s fine, but not when workers are expected to pay for that ambition.
There is a word for this; exploitation. And the rest of you housing associations are next.
It does not have to be this way. By standing together we can send the Board a firm message. Do you want to allow yourself to be exploited? Or are you going to do something about it?
If you are a NHHT employee, you owe it to yourself to join your colleagues and strike. Sure, nobody wants to lose a days pay, but rather that than suffer the long-term consequences. Do you want to lose your flexi-time benefits? What about when your job gets changed through the Altogether Better pilot and you are put on a lower salary, with only six months pay protection! Stand and fight now.
All other housing association employees, your support in this is greatly appreciated. We have had some staff from other associations already pledge to join us on strike in a show of solidarity (thank you). Even if you are not prepared to do that, you can write to our chief executive, the press etc and show that there is support out there.
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kass | 26/02/2010 9:14 pm
I wish the staff good luck! Stick at it and you'll win!
Tenants should support the staff in this action and the staff should keep in mind that in social housing they are there for the tenants not for directors and chief executives ready to diminish their rights at any opportunity.
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Norman Blunt | 27/02/2010 6:16 am
Aha! Could provoking this action all be part of the fragrant Kate Davies's plan to help her get rid of loadsa NH staff she doesn't like, and help divert cash towards say executive pay? I wonder!
Actually I thought darling Kate was telling 'those in the know' a little while ago that she planned to be off and away. Reincarnating as a Tory MP or sumfin. So maybe this all links to boosting her final pay-off.
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Mary | 27/02/2010 7:21 am
Will anyone notice? Yes. When over 200 staff withdraw their labour, particularly those working customer services, housing management or support and care services, that will make an impact.
The UNISON members at Notting Hill have been seeking meaningful negotiations and are not making unrealistic demands. Access to the Board was denied, a petition from over 300 staff was ignored as was the result of last year's consultative ballot. The employer refused to go to ACAS.
This strike ballot is highly unusual for London housing association workers so it is a significant result. How will undermining staff morale improve the quality of service to customers? What is the impact of £30,000 worth of carers' leave on the business compared to senior staff salaries (CEO salary £165,868 in 2008/2009)?
Both the TSA and HCA were contacted by UNISON about this dispute and a response is awaited.
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Mary | 27/02/2010 7:28 am
UNISON members at Notting Hill have received a wide range of support messages including one from UNITE stewards at Shelter who faced a similar situation 2 years ago (imposed changes to terms and conditions and a management refusal to negotiate or attend ACAS). The strike action brought management back to the table and concessions were made. Pay attention NHHT.
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Ann Tenna | 27/02/2010 9:50 am
Dear Mr Chair of NHHG. Thanks for letting staff know that you dont mind us voting for strike action, and that any staff who go on strike wont be treated any differently, or predjudiced against. Just to let you know, maybe you should look outside your very tall ivory tower in some green and pleasant land. We are still a democracy, staff have the right to go on strike, and if you thought that NHHG had the power to treat any staff in a detrimental way, they would have a lawsuit slammed down on them so fast, they would have to cut the fat salaries of the petrified senior mamanagement.
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Broadsword | 27/02/2010 9:50 am
Well, well, well we are in a state........
Notting Hill Housing Group voted in the ballot and more than 93 per cent of them backed strike action; Social landlords have been warned that plans to slash the UK’s huge housing benefit bill could undermine their financial stability; Investigations into claims of bullying and harassment increasing; ALMOs returning to councils; Independent newspaper reveals 20,000 council jobs to go; Fat cat salaries still ongoing and massive pay off’s for CEO’s; Unwelcome mergers and mortgage lenders jitters over TSA; Tenant empowerment a dream; The Gateway model produces no new TMO’s – has the dream gone?; The arrival of Audit Commission inspectors with only “five days” – massive pressure and stress for staff and tenants; Harrow reveals over kill on satisfaction surveys;Funding to third sector cut; VAT to increase; MP fiddles escape prosecution and can keep their job whilst local government officers must be sacked; Are we about to face a summer of discontent with social housing providers and their tenants, have the government got it wrong, is housing low on the political agenda?
Who’s for emigrating – lot of UK housing chiefs out on the talking circuit in OZ – do they know something we don’t?
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