Livv Housing CEO cancels Christmas parties and tries to break strike by offering pay deal to workers who confirm they are ‘non-union members’  
Pay strikes by Livv Housing workers in Knowsley will extend into Christmas, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.
The strikes will continue despite Livv Housing CEO Leanne Hearne offering workers in a company-wide email on 3 December a pay rise of five per cent before Christmas if they confirm they are “non-union members”. Unite believes this is an attempt to try and get workers to give up their union membership in order to weaken the strike.  
Hundreds of Livv Housing workers began striking in October after rejecting the five per cent offer, which does not reverse the real terms pay cuts they have experienced after many years of below inflation pay rises.
Livv Housing, which manages and maintains over 13,000 properties primarily in the Knowsley area, reported reserves of £110.6 million in March 2024.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Livv Housing is a Scrooge employer that is refusing to pay staff a reasonable increase despite its huge wealth. Now it is attempting to break the strike by trying to take advantage of the financial pressures its workers are facing in the run up to Christmas.
 
“Our members are appalled and only more determined to stay the course. This dispute will only end when Livv puts forward an acceptable pay offer, something it can well afford to do.”
In the same company-wide email, Leanne Hearne also expressed surprise that employees had responded negatively to a poll sent out enquiring about their attendance at the company’s Christmas parties. As a result, the email said, “we decided the best thing was to cancel our Christmas parties for 2024”.
Unite regional officer John Sheppard said: “It is hardly surprising that Livv Housing workers do not want to attend Christmas shindigs with their handsomely rewarded bosses when they are striking for a fair pay rise.
 
“If Livv Housing wants to spread some festive cheer, it should get back round the table with Unite and put forward an offer that reflects the years of below inflation pay rises its workers have suffered.”
The repair and maintenance workers, who are members of Unite, will strike on 18, 19, 20, 23 and 24 December. The dispute also involves members of Unison.
 
ENDS
For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.
Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.