Call centre and office staff at Age UK balloted on strike action in pay dispute
The workers are based in London, Blackpool, Newton Abbot in Devon and Warrington in Cheshire
Last updated 22 hours ago
Around 200 call centre and office workers at Age UK are to be balloted on strike action in a dispute over pay.
The Unite union said the ballot opens on Wednesday (14th October) and closes on 18th November 2026.
Unite said the workers are based in London, Blackpool, Newton Abbot in Devon and Warrington in Cheshire.
They work across a range of roles, including on the Advice Line and the Silver Line emotional support and friendship service, as well as supporting regional Age UK partner organisations.
What the union is saying
Unite said the workers' wages have fallen by 15.3 per cent in real terms since 2021 after years of below-inflation pay rises.
The union said industrial relations have "deteriorated further " since Age UK imposed a pay rise of two per cent for most workers.
Unite said Age UK had claimed it could only afford two per cent because it was concerned its reserves would drop to £25 million.
The union said the charity has now confirmed its reserves are forecast to stand at £31 million by the end of the year.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Age UK workers perform important roles in providing services, advice and assurance to vulnerable elderly people every day. They are the backbone of Age UK and cannot swallow another real-terms pay cut. Age UK can afford to make a reasonable pay offer - that is what needs to happen."
Unite regional coordinating officer Matt Freeman said: "Unite's Age UK members are dedicated to helping elderly people who are often highly distressed and in need. Age UK leadership thinks that makes them an easy target and that they will put up with unjustifiable attacks on their pay because they don't want to let people down.
"But is it Age UK's behaviour that is letting the charity's service users down - this dispute will continue to escalate unless Age UK puts forward an acceptable deal."
An Age UK worker said: "Staff at Age UK feel totally undervalued and let down by management, who appear willing to let our pay continue to fall further behind the cost of living rather than offer a fair increase. Age UK campaigns for pensioners to have financial security. Its own staff are facing exactly the same financial pressures, and we deserve a fair pay rise to help keep up with rising costs."
Age UK's response
An Age UK spokesperson said: "We remain committed to engaging constructively and respectfully with Unite.
"For clarity, 68% of our workforce have received an above inflation pay award of 4.1% or 4% with any lower paid staff working on our phonelines helping older people and our shop-based retail colleagues among these.
"This year's pay award of between 2% and 4.1%, backdated to the start of the financial year in April, represents the absolute maximum level that can be supported responsibly this year.
"We hugely value the contribution and commitment of everyone working for Age UK. Along with many other charities, we are having to ensure that our budgets are balanced in the face of an extremely tough external environment.
"Our top priority remains ensuring that we continue to support those older people who need us, and that no older person is impacted by any proposed union action."