There is set to be disruption to frontline social care services run by charity Change Grow Live (CGL) as over 1,200 workers at almost 150 sites across England and Scotland are being balloted for strike action over pay.

Change Grow Live (CGL) is one of the UK’s largest health and social care charities, providing vital support for people facing issues with drugs, alcohol, homelessness, mental health, justice, and employment. Its funding is sourced from the UK government.

CGL workers help keep our communities safe. Its workforce is made up of experienced and highly qualified professionals, including nursing staff, counsellors, psychologists and recovery workers who support some of the most vulnerable members of society.

They work with mental health teams, social services, courts, and probation services to support people with complex needs. Many frontline staff are paid only the minimum living wage.

But while workers’ pay has fallen behind, workloads have grown. Over the last 10 years, staff have suffered a real-terms pay cut of 15 to 24 per cent, with only one real-terms pay rise of just 0.5 per cent in 2020.

Meanwhile, senior executives have received huge pay increases: for example in one year alone the deputy CEO received a £55,000 pay rise and the CFO received a £21,000 pay rise.

Last year, staff were given just 1.5 per cent, while top executives received rises of up to 4.8 per cent. Together four managers received £153,000 in pay rises alone in the last four years.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "It is an absolute disgrace that while management are being rewarded with high pay rises, specialist staff on the frontline are struggling to afford the essentials.

"Fair pay for staff at CGL is essential to protecting both workers and the communities they serve. This situation cannot continue and Unite will give our members our full support during this dispute."

A Unite survey of staff undertaken last year found over four in 10 (42 per cent) have considered using a food bank in the past 12 months while 46 per cent have had to take on a second job. Over half (53 per cent) have struggled to pay their rent or mortgage and 39 per cent have had to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.

The ballot opens on 26 June and closes on 10 August. Any strike action would cause disruption to the vital services offered by CGL.

Until this dispute is resolved, local services could be disrupted, staff hardship will worsen, and vulnerable people in our communities will suffer. The CGL Executive team are currently refusing to meet with Unite and resolve this dispute.

Unite regional officer Kate Attwooll said: “CGL workers are often called the fourth emergency service – they work with some of the most vulnerable and challenging members of our society. Our members at CGL care deeply about the people they work with and industrial action is a last resort for them.

“However, years of real terms pay cuts have left them financially struggling and with no choice but to ballot for strikes. It is time CGL management recognised our members’ skills and hard work by coming back to negotiations with a meaningful pay offer.”

ENDS

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