'This is only the beginning' - Liverpool workers among 1,000 on strike for 'fair pay'

Unite members employed by finance sector outsourcer Diligenta have today started industrial action across five sites 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.

The strike action is expected to cause “considerable disruption” to Dilgenta’s many clients, with approximately 1,000 workers at sites in Liverpool, Glasgow, Reading, Edinburgh and Stirling holding an initial 24-hour strike on until 11.59pm tonight.

The dispute is set to escalate as further strikes have now been scheduled for November 28, December 1, December 8 and December 9.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Diligenta needs to wake up. Imposing a real terms pay cut on its workers, while making millions of pounds of profits and whilst continuing to reward shareholders is completely unacceptable.

“Today across picket lines Unite members will be making their anger clear in their fight for the fair pay deal they deserve. This is only the beginning of the industrial action.”

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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 strike action.