Brighton: MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle at St Mungo's strike rally

Homeless charity St. Mungo's offered a "pitiful" pay rise of 2.25 per cent to its workers. The employees say this is not enough, so activists went to Brighton's clock tower to show their anger.

A small crowd gathered outside the Clock Tower (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

At yesterday's action in Brighton, which marked the midpoint of their month-long strike, MP for Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle said the pay officer is "disgraceful".

"The reality is that with inflation high, we cannot have these pay offers anymore. It is not acceptable, it is not just, and it is not fair.

"Other organisations in this sector are offering a much higher pay increase that keeps up with the standard of living," he said.

Lloyd at the protest (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

It was organised by members of the trade union Unite which represent's the charity's staff - who help nearly 25,000 homeless people each year.

The rally started at the Clock Tower in the city centre at around 11.30am and flags, banners and signs dominated the pedestrian area as activists began to fill the area.

The strike action commenced on May 30 and has seen its staff walk out across the country.

St Mungo's works with Brighton and Hove City Council to provide homeless services for those most at need - but these services have ground to halt.

They provided the No Second Night Out service which looked to limit the amount of time homeless people have to spend sleeping on the streets.

The protest at the Clock Tower (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Unite regional officer Steve O’Donnell said: “Brighton isn’t getting the services the homeless desperately need because St Mungo’s won’t pay its workers fairly. 

"The strike is rock solid, so management must realise that they cannot continue to ignore the workforce.

"This failing charity needs to make a better pay offer and end this dispute."

A spokesman for Unite said that some "workers in the charity take home less than £20,000 a year after tax and deductions

"Many of the workers are now in fear themselves after being unable to pay their rent or mortgage on their current poverty wages."

Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said: “Our latest offer, combined with the annual pay rise proposed by the National Joint Council, would have meant a pay rise of at least ten per cent for those colleagues on the lowest salaries.

“This is what Unite has been asking for but voted against it.

“After all our efforts to find a solution to this dispute, a four-week strike is unprecedented and disproportionate.

“It will impact vulnerable people at risk of or recovering from homelessness.

“My door remains open to Unite every day during the strike.”