OUTSOURCED call centre and back office workers for Lloyds, M&G, Aviva and Phoenix will strike over a pay row, Unite announced today.

Some 1,000 staff at five Diligenta sites will walk out on November 18 after rejecting pay offers of 3 and 2 per cent, respectively for employees on up to £40,000 and £70,000 per year.  

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Diligenta is a profitable business making millions of pounds of profits, owned by a billion-dollar company, while continuing to reward shareholders.

“Yet disgracefully it is denying workers a fair pay deal.”

Unite regional officer Helen Camp, said: “Strike action will cause considerable disruption to Dilgenta’s many clients, but the company has only got itself to blame it has had every opportunity to make our members a fair pay offer but has refused to even take part in negotiations.”

Diligenta declined to comment.