Eve-of-strike success for Look Ahead Unite members

After weeks of negotiation and an escalating threat of industrial action, with a seven-day strike due to start on 9 July, Unite LE1111 members working in the four Hackney Look Ahead mental health services were finally made an offer that they considered acceptable – and what a victory!

The offer included guaranteed redeployment or retention on current pay and conditions for those who wish to stay in service, enhanced redundancy for those who wish to leave, and trade union recognition for the Unite organised projects in Hackney (where, incidentally, membership is over 99%!).

Look Ahead workers have done an amazing job in halting this particular attempt at a race to the bottom. They are already on low pay, having received an average pay cut of 15% less than two years ago, yet the employer was demanding a further 14% pay cut.

Look Ahead Care and Support is notorious within the care sector for undercutting other providers on service costs to win contracts, then slashing staff terms and conditions and the quality of services in order to make the contract pay. Publicly funded service contracts are thus squeezed to make a surplus, which is then partly used for lavish executive pay rises.

The victory shows what can be achieved when members stick together and have the confidence to make a stand – and if our members in Look Ahead can do it, others can too.

Unite members