[UK] Strike vote cost debt advice charity workers their jobs

A UK debt advice charity fired four of six frontline staff members who had voted yes to strike action in a dispute with their employer over trade union recognition, conditions and pay, Third Sector reports.

Earlier this month, Third Sector reported that employees at Rooted Finance - represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain - would strike on 18 and 19 March.

But, according to the IWGB, four debt advisers at the charity were sacked suddenly on March 8; the day that the strike action was announced. 

In December 2023, Rooted Finance employees represented by the IWGB reportedly sent a letter to the charity’s management setting out their concerns about pay, inadequate training and working conditions.

The union stated that management had responded with a series of disciplinaries and one-on-one meetings. Something that workers “interpreted as an attempt to intimidate them out of taking trade union action”. 

The IWGB said, “Just a few hours after workers announced their plans to take strike action, management dismissed them remotely and immediately locked them out of their work laptops,” said the union.

“Those fired have been left worrying how their clients will survive now that their support has been so suddenly withdrawn.”

Muna Yassin - chief executive of Rooted Finance - reportedly stated that the workers in question were not dismissed due to the planned strike action.

Ms Yassin said, “Action Rooted Finance has taken is in relation to employees’ conduct under their individual employment contracts, not union activity, and they have the right to appeal the action as is the option open to them in employment legislation.”

Source: Third Sector

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

A UK debt advice charity fired four of six frontline staff members who had voted yes to strike action in a dispute with their employer over trade union recognition, conditions and pay, Third Sector reports.

Earlier this month, Third Sector reported that employees at Rooted Finance - represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain - would strike on 18 and 19 March.

But, according to the IWGB, four debt advisers at the charity were sacked suddenly on March 8; the day that the strike action was announced. 

In December 2023, Rooted Finance employees represented by the IWGB reportedly sent a letter to the charity’s management setting out their concerns about pay, inadequate training and working conditions.

The union stated that management had responded with a series of disciplinaries and one-on-one meetings. Something that workers “interpreted as an attempt to intimidate them out of taking trade union action”. 

The IWGB said, “Just a few hours after workers announced their plans to take strike action, management dismissed them remotely and immediately locked them out of their work laptops,” said the union.

“Those fired have been left worrying how their clients will survive now that their support has been so suddenly withdrawn.”

Muna Yassin - chief executive of Rooted Finance - reportedly stated that the workers in question were not dismissed due to the planned strike action.

Ms Yassin said, “Action Rooted Finance has taken is in relation to employees’ conduct under their individual employment contracts, not union activity, and they have the right to appeal the action as is the option open to them in employment legislation.”

Source: Third Sector

(Link and quotes via original reporting)