Zarah ChoudharyKnowsley pay strikes by hundreds of Livv Housing workers have intensified, according to Unite.
The escalation comes as contractors brought in by Livv Housing were named by the union.
Prescot-based Elect Building and Maintenance as well as Wrexham-based Orca Customer Contract Services are providing services to Livv Housing despite the strikes.
Unite said further demonstrations will take place outside of the companies’ headquarters over their “attempts to undermine the strikes.”
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Livv Housing is happy to throw money away on strike breaking services provided by Elect and Orca but somehow doesn’t have enough to give its staff a fair pay rise.
“This isn’t about affordability for Livv’s bosses – it’s about union-busting. Well, it won’t work – the dispute will continue to escalate until Livv addresses the years of real terms pay cuts its workers have suffered.”
Unite’s members will take fresh strike action from 17th March to 30th March.
Tenant services to more than 13,000 homes will be affected.
In addition Unite confirmed that additional strikes will be called if the dispute is not resolved.
John Sheppard, regional officer at Unite said: “Livv Housing has millions in the bank and can more than afford to give its workers a fair pay rise.
“Attempts to undermine the strike action won’t work.
“The only way strikes will end is if Livv puts forward an acceptable offer.”
James Robinson, branch secretary of Knowsley UNISON, said: “These workers have suffered year after year of pay cuts and their standards of living have been decimated.
“To see their employer wasting so much money on strike breaking services instead of giving them the pay they deserve is sickening.
“The staff will remain on strike until they win. Livv bosses should get round the table now and prevent themselves wasting any more money that could go to their workers or their tenants.”
A spokesperson from Livv Housing said: “In early 2024, we proposed a sector-leading 5% pay increase, which was rejected by unions seeking 10%. This resulted in approximately 28% of our colleagues striking from October, with a mandate to strike for a further six months from March 2025.
“During recent negotiations, we made a final offer that included reduction in hours of work, increase in pension contribution, a two year pay award deal (7.7% over two years), increase in holiday entitlement and a salary review process.
“This proposal provides a potential increase in pay and benefits package that equates to 17.88%. The offer is based on what is affordable to us as a business and is a result of comprehensive negotiations – it is thorough, fair, and shows our commitment to helping colleagues return to work.
“Orca and Elect are simply part of our service delivery model that we have in place to deliver the services that we need to meet our regulatory obligations and keep our customers and communities safe.
“We’re eager to reach an agreement and halt any further industrial action, but we must ensure that any offer does not harm the business or compromise the crucial services we provide to our customers.
“We hope that the Unions will now take this to their members, and they feel that it’s an acceptable offer to end this dispute.”
