A striker spoke to Hugo Pierre
Unison members at East End Homes, a housing association employing around 120 staff with a stock of 3,900 homes, have been on strike since 1 July in protest against a consultation by the executive team on closing their current final salary pension scheme, transferring staff to an inferior scheme.
Photo: Tower Hamlets Unison Facebook
Concessions have been won through strike action, including the offer of a transition payment and increases in the employer contributions to the new pension for a limited period. However, the majority of affected Unison members have voted to reject these and to continue with further industrial action.
East End Homes have now confirmed they will consider beginning consultation on firing and rehiring staff who refuse to sign new contracts. This is in advance of new legislation coming into force in January 2027 that will make this practice illegal unless a business is facing severe financial difficulties.
Zoe Woodward, one of the Unison reps, said: “We intend to continue industrial action until our members achieve the withdrawal of this proposal or proper concessions for the loss of their pension.”