RSL housing staff losing out, says union

18 Oct 07
Stock transfers from councils to housing associations have helped create a two-tier workforce among staff employed by the same landlord, a union has claimed.

19 October 2007

Stock transfers from councils to housing associations have helped create a two-tier workforce among staff employed by the same landlord, a union has claimed.

While staff who previously worked for a council retain local government terms and conditions following transfer, other housing association workers often earn less and receive inferior pensions, according to the Unison survey.

The study of 337 housing association staff, carried out for Unison by pay analysts Income Data Services, found that the median salary at registered social landlords is £21,980, while a quarter earn less than £17,000.

Just 18% of RSL employees who did not work for a council receive a local government pension, compared with 71% of RSL employees still covered by local government terms and conditions.

Mike Short, Unison's national officer for housing associations, said too many RSL staff were on low pay with poor access to quality pensions. 'Part-privatisation of housing and the loss of local authority control has led to a fragmentation of employee terms and conditions.'

The survey, published last week, also found that the median male salary is £2,000, or 10%, higher than that for women. Men were also one-and-a-half times more likely to be employed on protected terms.

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