Link Housing workers in Glasgow 'struggling to make ends meet' in fight for fair pay

Plumbers, joiners, electricians, laborers and officers at Link Housing will campaign for the next coming weeks amid a pay rise feud.

The staff are calling on the affordable housing employer to up their pay by 3.5% after rejecting an "insulting" 1% pay rise bid. 

Unite say that the campaign comes after Link "imposed" the 1% rise upon the workforce - despite it being rejected by a majority of union members.

📢 FAIR PAY FOR KEY WORKERS 🚨@Link_Group_Ltd have more than doubled their profits on the backs Unite Members who have provided a lifeline service during a time of national crisis. A 1% pay rise is an insult to these key workers & has rightly been rejected twice.#FairPayNow pic.twitter.com/83QOCxoyeY

— Link Group Workers demand Fair Pay Now (@FairPay4Link) October 25, 2021

The union is drawing attention to Link Housing recently increasing its rent fees by 2.5% while some workers who also rent homes from the employer were only offered 1%, resulting in workers struggling to pay household bills. 

Carrie Binnie, Unite industrial officer, speaking on the launch of the #FairPay4Link campaign, said: “Most members we represent were categorised as key workers during the pandemic, and they have worked diligently and professionally throughout providing essential services for tenants. 

"Yet, their reward is a below-inflation pay increase which amounts to nothing.

"It's actually worse than nothing, it's a pay cut when you take into consideration the cost of living and many workers are also tenants of the Link Group who have raised rental fees by 2.5%."

Workers will be invited to ballot for industrial action if pay negotiations are not settled through the campaign. 

Carrie added: "Unite has launched our Fair Pay campaign at Link because our members are financially struggling to make ends meet.

"It’s important to remember that while the Link Group prides itself on being socially responsible it should also extend that responsibility to its workers and give them a fair pay deal.”

Link covers around 15,000 social residents across Glasgow, Paisley, Falkirk and Edinburgh. 

Link Group said that it was committed to negotiating a pay deal with union representative.

A spokesperson for the firm said: “We have been in negotiation with representatives from Unite since December 2020 in relation to the annual Link staff pay increase.

“It is disappointing we have been unable to reach a consensus but we shall continue to communicate with union representatives on the matter.

“As always, staff wellbeing is a priority for Link alongside the provision of affordable housing and excellent support services to people and families across Scotland.”