HCA staff strike action over 'insulting pay'

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government

Staff at the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) will walk out on strike tomorrow over an "insulting pay offer".

More than 100 members of union Unite will stand with members of the civil service union PCS.

Unite national officer for the not for profit sector Sally Kosky said: "Some HCA staff will receive no pay rise at all, despite a 13 percent average rise in the cost of living since 2008 and two years of pay freezes.

"The HCA acting CEO Richard Hill has handled this in a bizarre and insensitive fashion - he has treated our members as if they were invisible and did not have household bills to pay and families to support."

Unite plan to set up picket lines at the HCA's Maple House office on Tottenham Court Road, central London and at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester.

A HCA spokesperson said: “A limited number of HCA staff are taking industrial action tomorrow, as part of a national day of union action. The HCA supports strong union representation among staff and we are confident of maintaining operational activity.”