Nick Auvache, Unite organiser, Housing Workers Branch
After two and half weeks of striking and picketing their Fleet Street offices, digital and tech workers at Legal 500 have won a stunning victory. The Unite members’ central demand for a flat pay increase of £2,000 for each worker has been met in full.
Legal 500, a global legal directory, has grown significantly over the last few years, bringing in more than £40 million over that period. Workers simply wanted a fair share.
Management had previously sacked two workers who had started to organise. Workers were undeterred. Unite continued to recruit and then members voted for strike action when management initially rejected their pay claim.
Despite the fact that it was clearly affordable, the employer told Unite that it is not in line with their ‘pay principles’ to raise pay when business is going well! Unite members took a different view.
The workers rejected a 3.4% pay offer and a revised £1,200 uplift. Daily pickets were lively and well attended, which boosted morale.
In addition, Unite organised a protest outside the Bar Awards ceremony hosted by the company – exposing their meanness took the shine off this glossy event.
The sacrifice and determination of the workers, together with support from the wider movement, forced the bosses to return the table with their tails between their legs and submit to the union’s demands.
Many of these workers are young and for the vast majority it was the first time they had been on strike. Their experience endorsed the idea that militant trade unionism plus solidarity brings results!
