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Workers at Citizens Advice Bureau begin strike over pay

MORE than 60 workers are striking over pay at the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Members of union Unite at the Hull & East Riding arm of the charity have accused bosses of reneging on a national pay deal and voted by 92 per cent to strike.

They walked out on July 31 and again today, when pickets were in action in Hull, and will be out again tomorrow and Friday.

Unite rep Ray Davies told the Morning Star that pay rates were negotiated through a national joint council, which for years had imposed zero or below-inflation increases.

He said: “Last year they agreed a flat rate £1,925 increase across all grades. It benefits the least well-off. But the employer said they were not going to pay that because they couldn’t afford it.

“But the [bureau] is quite wealthy and has reserves of £1,076,156.

“After this week we are going to announce more strikes but we haven’t yet decided when.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the Citizens Advice workers had “dutifully accepted” cuts in pay. “But now, the charity is reneging on that agreement because they say the offer is too high,” she said. 

“This is totally unacceptable and duplicitous behaviour by an organisation that can afford to pay.”

Hull Citizens Advice Bureau said: “We are working to reduce the impact on our services. We will be providing telephone, webchat and email advice only on most affected days.

"We will be operating a limited service on strike days to enable us to meet demand.”

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