Workers represented by the union IWGB at the charity Rooted Finance are to go on strike next week amid claims its management is waging “an aggressive and intimidating anti-union campaign”.

The dispute focuses on the charity's alleged reaction to members' requests for trade union recognition and concerns over “low pay and inadequate training”, says the union.

The workers voted unanimously to strike over their concerns and will walk out on March 18 and 19.

IWGB says the dispute at the charity started in December last year when concerns over pay, conditions and union recognition were raised.

“Management retaliated with a series of intimidatory one-to-one and group meetings where they made clear their opposition to workers forming a union,” claims the IWGB.

“The majority of workers who signed the letter requesting union recognition have since then been summoned to disciplinaries and threatened with dismissal.”

One worker at the charity alleges that after workers raised concerns in a meeting, the Rooted Finance chief executive “was aggressive, pedantic and defensive”.

The worker added: “Our union rep was polite and cordial, so I don’t understand why she had to shout at him like that. It was like she considered even mentioning union recognition as beyond the pale."

Another alleges: “The fact that they would rather threaten us and waste hours of the organisation’s time, instead of speaking to us, is outrageous. How come they have all of this spare capacity for intimidation and aggression, but no spare capacity to address our concerns or speak to us civilly?”

Seven former employees have signed a public letter accusing the charity of “toxic practices”, and alleging it is blighted by "unsafe working conditions, unsustainable workloads, a failure to take health issues seriously, and intimidating and bullying behaviours from management".

After posting about the awful situation at @RootedFinance - where staff are balloting to strike despite severe mgmt hostility - several ex-staff members got in touch...

Here's what they said 👇

End this disgraceful pattern of behaviour and engage seriously with your workers. pic.twitter.com/Lj16ZXzmuO

— IWGB Charity Workers Branch (@IWGBcharity) February 19, 2024

IWGB charity workers branch chair Ajmal Waqif has accused Rooted Finance management of being “reckless and cruel”.

“The actions of these dangerous directors are preventing well meaning workers from helping those in need,” added Waqif.

Charity 'disappointed' by union action

Rooted Finance CEO Muna Yassin says the charity is "disappointed at the tactics by the IWGB and it is disturbing to hear about the alleged poor behaviour, which has not been raised previously".

"As an advice organisation, we work hard every day to deliver quality advice which has a positive impact on the lives of our clients," she added.

"It is unfortunate that the IWGB continues to provide inaccurate and potentially damaging advice to members of the RF team which risks damaging relationships and the services being provided by Rooted Finance.

"Rooted Finance is a small, grassroots organisation delivering vital services to 1000s of people facing financial difficulty resulting from the increased cost of living and other vulnerabilities.

"While it offers market level pay and benefits, Rooted Finance is not able to offer all of the same benefits as larger charities or the private sector. The actions of a few in partnership with the IWGB are putting these services at risk.

"We will not be bullied by aggressive and unlawful tactics employed by any external organisation which risks the detriment of our team or clients.

"Any action Rooted Finance has taken is in relation to the employee's conduct under their individual employment contracts, not union activity, and they have the right to appeal the action as is the option open to them in employment legislation."

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