Hundreds of staff at a world-famous scientific research institute have begun continuous and indefinite strike action in their battle to be paid a fair wage.

Continuous strikes 

Workers at the Institute of Cancer Research have this week escalated their dispute at the science centre after management failed to make a reasonable offer, despite the severe impact of strike action on lab research, student training, and clinical trials.

Anger among the workforce is running at an all-time high over both poverty wages and that illegal, untrained, strike-breaking agency staff has been brought in to try and undermine the legitimate concerns of staff. Many workers earn barely more than the London Living Wage (£14.80ph) and surveys have shown many are struggling to make ends meet.

Staff treated with utter disdain

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "The ICR is treating its hard working staff with utter disdain and its refusal to reasonably negotiate is a further smack in the face for struggling staff. Unite is completely in their fight for a wage they can actually live on.

"The ICR can easily afford a fair pay rise while their managers rake-in hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. Our members are the foundations of their Institute and should be recognised for their hard work with a proper pay offer."

Poor pay offer

Workers who work across scientific research, laboratory support, and site management, have had a 3.75 per cent offer imposed on them amid a cost-of-living crisis, along with the refusal to implement an increment-based pay policy. The workers have experienced a series of below inflation pay rises over recent years, resulting in severe cuts in their living standards.

The ICR insists it cannot afford to pay workers more yet has a "development fund" of over £100 million and has costed a 16 per cent pay restoration pay rise for all staff at just £9 million. The CEO of the ICR, Kristian Helin, earns over £400,000 per year.

Illegal use of agency staff

Unite regional officer Will Searby added: "We have warned ICR management against trying to undermine our members by illegally using agency staff to cover for striking workers.

“The employer’s actions is simply creating further anger and potentially putting people and equipment at risk through unsafe handling. The ICR needs to come back to the table with an improved offer and begin to repair the damage it is doing to staff relations."

ENDS