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Peabody housing managers balloted over strike action
Housing managers at Peabody are being balloted for strike action over terms in their new contracts.
Trade union Unite, which represents 26 of the 55 neighbourhood managers at the five affected Peabody sites across London, claim that the terms constitute “a major erosion” in working conditions.
It alleged that the contracts require evening and weekend work anywhere in the UK, training outside working hours without extra pay or time off in lieu, and being asked to handle serious anti-social behaviour cases without adequate training and risk assessments.
Peabody, which owns around 66,000 homes, said it is seeking to reach an “amicable resolution”.
The ballot opened on Wednesday and will run for three weeks until 27 November.
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Tabusam Ahmed, regional officer at Unite, said: “The neighbourhood managers do vital work in ensuring the smooth running of the Peabody Trust 24/7 – they deal with all that comes their way from stabbings to a lost fob.
“What the management has now imposed on our members is a major erosion in their employment conditions, without serious consultation with Unite.
“We regard the management’s stance as high handed and this has now resulted in a strike ballot by Unite’s 26 managers.”
He added: “Once again, we urge the management to come to the table for constructive talks.”
Last December, Peabody call centre staff voted to strike over a proposal to move their office outside London in a ballot organised by Unite, but no action was taken after a deal was reached with the housing association.
Neighbourhood managers handle estate-based matters outside the remit of caretakers and repair workers.
Unite claimed that the number of neighbourhood managers at the five sites have been cut from 80 to 55 in a recent restructure.
A spokesperson for Peabody said: “Talks are ongoing and we’re seeking to achieve an amicable resolution.”
