Housing workers took to the streets of Cwmbran to protest against a below inflation pay award being imposed upon them.
Staff at Bron Afon Community Housing say they are now being forced to use foodbanks to survive while its chief executive could receive a £6,000 pay rise if the latest pay settlement is forced through.
UNISON Cymru/Wales, the public services union representing workers at Bron Afon, organised a demonstration outside the headquarters of Bron Afon in Cwmbran on Thursday (September 28) after yet another below inflation pay award of 5% or £1,921 was imposed on the workforce.
The union had been in negotiations with Bron Afon but bosses recently withdrew a pay offer in favour of one that sees the highest paid reap more than the rest of the staff.
Employees had already rejected a 5.3% offer, this was raised to 6.5% but later withdrawn with a further offer of a flat £2,032 increase on all grades.
This was then removed and Bron Afon is imposing the latest offer, which for many will mean over £100 less in their annual pay award than the offer UNISON and GMB had accepted – all so those in senior positions can give themselves even bigger pay rises.