Livv dispute with unions ends after eight months of strikes

An eight-month long industrial dispute which has seen hundreds of staff at Livv Housing Group go on strike has ended after the housing association agreed a one-off payment to staff and changes to working hours.

The union Unite and Livv Housing Group both confirmed this morning that the dispute, which was triggered after the unions last year rejected a 5% pay increase for 2024/25, has been resolved.

Hundreds of members of Unite and fellow union Unison returned to work yesterday.

Unite claimed a ‘fantastic’ victory and said it had secured a pay deal worth “between 8 and 8.5%”

However the accepted basic two-year pay deal, consisting of a 5% rise in 2024/25 and 2.7% in 2025/26, is understood to be the same as Livv originally offered.

It has however agreed to make an additional one-off payment of £175 on top of this to all staff, which Unite has added to the rise over two years to arrive at its 8%-8.5% figure.

The deal will see matched pension contributions increase from six per cent to 10 per cent and a pension salary sacrifice scheme will be implemented to help members benefit from tax savings. Livv said both of these measures were in its original offer.

Livv has agreed to make the three annual days of leave it gives to staff each year contractual rather than informal.

The housing association has agreed an immediate move to a 39-hour week and a working group will be set up to look at a further reduction to 38 hours or lower within 12 months. Productivity maximisation criteria has been agreed to minimise the impact on customer and focus on service delivery.

Unite also confirmed it has abandoned its controversial tenants complaints ‘hotline’. The union had encouraged Livv residents to call its own unofficial number to report issues. The move was criticised by social housing sector figures and prompted Livv to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office over the collection and use of residents’ data. 

>>See also: Livv takes legal advice after Unite sets up unofficial ‘hotline’ for resident complaints

>>See also: ‘Reserves are not excess funds’ - Livv hits back at unions as quarter of staff strike over pay

A spokesperson for Livv said: “We are pleased that our colleagues have returned to work following the Unions’ recommendation to accept our existing offer. We take pride in knowing that our pay and benefits package is one of the most favourable in the sector, reflecting our commitment to our colleagues. Our priority has always been to invest in our homes, support our colleagues, and serve our customers and communities.”

John Sheppard, regional officer at Unite, said: “This deal is a real step forward and could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of our representatives and members.”

Unison has been approached for comment.