Mears Manchester
Agreement has been reached between the Unite general union and the Mears housing maintenance company in Manchester that settles a long-standing dispute over pay. Over 80 days of strike action have been taken by 180 Unite members since May last year.
The dispute was over pay parity for workers employed by Manchester Mears and Manchester Working (a joint venture company operated by Mears) who carry out repairs and maintenance on 11,000 council properties managed by Northwards Housing on contracts tendered by Manchester council.
Workers at both organisations were being paid up to £3,500 less than colleagues for undertaking the same work.
The deal was reached following detailed negotiations involving the union and both Mears and Manchester council, and involves across the board pay increases of 20%, and equalisation of pay within and across trade groups as well as parity of pay with similar organisations in the sector.
Unite regional co-ordinating officer Andy Fisher called the agreement “a victory for solidarity and direct action”, with members sticking together “through thick and thin”.