Stonham staff vote to accept pay offer

Staff at supported housing provider Stonham have accepted the company’s latest pay offer, bringing protracted negotiations to
an end.

Amicus members were unhappy with the company’s initial offer of a 2.5 per cent increase for all staff, which was then raised to 2.55 per cent for lower paid workers, and industrial action looked likely.

However, they have now voted for a 2.6 per cent increase for lower paid staff and 2.5 per cent for all others. Stonham chief executive Andy Painton said the increase was in line with inflation at a time when the company was “experiencing huge demand to reduce costs as a result of pressure on Supporting People budgets”.

Amicus organiser David Jones said negotiations had been “extremely difficult” but members had made a “sensible decision” to
accept the latest offer.

The union has also agreed to work with Stonham to lobby the government on Supporting People funding.