Hundreds of Liverpool workers to strike in 'fight for decent pay'
Liverpool workers are among around 1,000 people set to strike next week.
Around 1,000 people employed by finance sector outsourcer Diligenta are set to take industrial action in a dispute over pay.
Unite says the strike action is a result of the company’s management’s “failure to give its workforce an acceptable pay rise this year”. The union says the Diligenta has “sought to impose a real-terms pay cut” on its members.
Approximately 1,000 Unite members working at Diligenta sites in Liverpool, Glasgow, Reading, Edinburgh and Stirling will hold an initial 24-hour strike on Tuesday (November 18), from 0.01am until 11.59pm.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Diligenta is a profitable business making millions of pounds of profits, owned by a billion-dollar company, whilst continuing to reward shareholders. Yet disgracefully it is denying workers a fair pay deal.
“Our members at Diligenta have Unite’s total support in their fight for decent pay.”
Dilgenta has sought to impose a real-terms pay cut on the workforce (see note to editors).
The workers are involved in outsourced work undertaking call centre, back office and complaints roles for several clients including Lloyds, M&G, Aviva and Phoenix.
Unite regional officer Helen Camp, said: “Strike action will cause considerable disruption to Dilgenta’s many clients, but the company has only got itself to blame it has had every opportunity to make our members a fair pay offer but has refused to even take part in negotiations.
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“Even at this late-stage strikes could be averted by Dilgenta returning to negotiations and making a decent offer to its worker.”
Almost 600 staff are employed at Diligenta's Liverpool site on Old Hall Street, with the lease on the current office due to expire early next year.
Last month, Unite said the company had “confirmed that it intends to secure a lease on the current site but with less than half the number the desks than they currently have” and urged management to come clean to the workforce about its plans. Diligenta declined to comment on the Liverpool office when approached.
Diligenta declined Liverpool World’s request to comment on the upcoming strike action.