Staff at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) have begun a period of “continuous and indefinite strike action” amid concerns over low pay, according to their union Unite.

In a statement Unite says hundreds of staff at the research charity are involved.

This says that “anger among the workforce is running at an all time high” over low wages and the charity’s use of agency staff, who Unite claims have been hired “to try and undermine the legitimate concerns of staff”.

It adds that many members of staff “earn barely more than the London Living Wage of £14.80 a hour and are “struggling to make ends meet”.

The union’s regional officer Will Searby said: “We have warned ICR management against trying to undermine our members by illegally using agency staff to cover for striking workers.

“The employer’s actions is simply creating further anger and potentially putting people and equipment at risk through unsafe handling. T

“The ICR needs to come back to the table with an improved offer and begin to repair the damage it is doing to staff relations."

The union says that the charity’s workforce has had a 3.75% pay increase “imposed on them”, which follows a series of “below inflation pay rises over recent years”.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham says the charity is treating its staff with “utter disdain” regarding their pay.

"The ICR can easily afford a fair pay rise while their managers rake-in hundreds of thousands of pounds a year,” she said.

“Our members are the foundations of their Institute and should be recognised for their hard work with a proper pay offer."

Increased pay offer

A charity spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that members have voted to reject the latest offer and to extend industrial action.”

They added that its pay award has been increased from 3.75% to 5% and backdated to August last year. Also offered is a “substantially enhanced package including incremental pay scales”.

"The ICR remains committed to constructive and reasonable dialogue," said the spokesperson.

“Our priority is to reward colleagues fairly, in a way that ensures we can continue delivering life-saving cancer research sustainably in the long-term. As an independent, not-for-profit institute, we must strike a careful balance between these responsibilities.

“We are taking all necessary and appropriate steps to minimise the disruption caused by the decision to continue industrial action.”

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