Around 1,000 workers employed by outsourcing firm Capita are participating in strike action following a dispute with their employer over a pay award for 2024.
The employees, who are based in Manchester and Glasgow, work on the firm’s Royal London account.
Having begun on Wednesday 29 January at 7am, there will be ongoing industrial action until 5.59am on Wednesday 5 February. Picket locations have been at Broadhurst House in Manchester and The Skypark in Glasgow from 8am until 10am.
Employees have argued that they were due a 2024 pay award last April and that their employer had postponed annual pay talks with the union Unite, with the assurance they would receive a pay rise in October. Capita argues otherwise. The employees claim that this has not materialised, despite Capita reporting healthy profits and balance sheet.
In December 2024, workers voted overwhelmingly to take strike action across the two Capita sites, following a ballot that began in November.
A Capita spokesperson said: “We have plans in place to mitigate the impact of industrial action, we have met with union representatives to further discussions but disappointingly we have not been able to resolve positively.”
Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, added: “This is an employer that can fully afford to give its workers a decent pay rise but has cynically failed to do so to boost its profits. Capita should be under no illusions about the strength of feeling of Unite members in its workplaces over pay. Our members at Capita will receive the union’s unwavering support.”
Dominic Hook, national officer at Unite, said: “Capita has had months to sit down with Unite to negotiate with the union to ensure its workforce receive a fair pay deal for 2024. Because of the lack of action by management, the Capita contract with Royal London will now face delays and disruption.”
