Christmas strikes by workers at housing charity Shelter have been averted after Unite members at the organisation voted to accept an offer from the charity.

Around 550 staff members had voted for strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.

However, industrial action will no longer go ahead after workers overwhelmingly accepted a new offer of a shortening of the working week from 37 hours to 35 hours, which equates to over a five per cent pay rise. They will also receive two extra days of annual leave, with both improvements effective from 1 January 2026.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "This result shows once again that Unite is delivering for workers up and down the country. Our members should be applauded after they stood together to ensure they received better an improvements in conditions.”

Shelter is a leading housing and homelessness charity, which was set up in 1966. As well as its head office in London, it is based in 11 other UK cities including Edinburgh, Bristol and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Unite regional officer Peter Storey said: "Christmas is a historically busy time of year for Shelter and any strike action would have been hugely disruptive to services.

"Through extensive negotiations, we were offered a much-improved deal which members overwhelmingly voted to accept. We are pleased to have avoided industrial action and look forward to working with management to negotiate further improvements to jobs, pay and conditions at Shelter."

ENDS

Notes to editors

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