Manchester housing staff win pay rise after eight-month talking period with contractor

“We can be reassured that repairs services to our council homes will continue and tenants can expect a reliable service should they require any repairs to their homes.”

It comes after Equans received a nearly 10% uplift on the contract from Manchester City Council when it took over from the previous contractor in 2021.

However, Unite said it had not shared the increase with workers, who were transferred over from a previous contractor. Union members had been in talks with Equans since April, it said.

A spokesperson for Equans said: “We have listened to our workforce’s concerns and worked hard to reach a positive outcome.

“We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement without any disruption to the services delivered on behalf of Manchester City Council housing and our focus is now on continuing to deliver these important services to the people of Manchester.”

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “This victory by our members highlights how standing side by side and being prepared to take strike action achieves immediate and future improvements for their jobs, pay and conditions – whether that be through positive discussions or industrial action.”

Many landlords have faced strike action this year as workers across the sector feel the impact of high inflation and the cost of living crisis.

In August, staff at a housing association in the East of England announced a nine-say strike over pay.

Nearly 60 workers at Freebridge Community Housing, based in King’s Lynn, were balloted by Unite to take part in the industrial action.

The 7,000-home landlord offered employees a 5% pay increase and a £500 non-consolidated payment, Unite claimed. The union argued that this represents a real-terms pay cut with retail price index inflation at 10.7%.