Oxfam workers in the UK are planning to hold a strike ballot for the first time over pay.
Some staff claim they rely mostly on food banks and struggle to cover their rent.
Unite the Union, representing Oxfam workers, has accused the charity of a stark contradiction as it publicly denounces real-term wage cuts.
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However, it stands accused of providing its employees with what Unite describes as “poverty pay.”
Unite said most of Oxfam’s office and retail workers earn little more than the minimum wage.
A recent survey among nearly 150 Oxfam employees highlighted the challenges they face amid the escalating cost of living.
Eating or heating
Within the past year, eight percent of these workers had to resort to food banks, and 22 percent couldn’t meet their rent payments.
Almost 34 percent were forced to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.
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Unite says Oxfam’s total income for 2022 amounted to £373 million.
It represents 86 percent of its pre-pandemic income level of £434 million.
The union also pointed out Oxfam’s cash surplus is greater than before the pandemic.
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary, said: “Oxfam’s hypocrisy is astounding.
“This is a charity in robust financial health that makes much of belonging to the Ethical Trading Initiative and bestowing the virtues of unions to lift workers out of poverty.
“Meanwhile, Oxfam’s own staff are on poverty pay, with some using food banks and unable to pay their rent.
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“How can its leadership possibly justify ignoring its workers’ demands to be paid fairly and blocking their union?
“Oxfam can well afford to pay a reasonable rise without the slightest impact on its operations here or abroad.”
Oxfam workers have rejected a pay offer of £1,750 or six percent (whichever is higher), plus a one-time payment of £1,000.
Unite reported average wages at Oxfam have declined by 21 percent in real terms since 2018.
The charity is now attempting to enforce the offer despite being rejected by 79 percent of the union’s members.
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Unite intends to hold a strike ballot among its members.
An Oxfam GB spokesperson said the charity wants to reach an agreement with Unite.
“Simply not affordable”
They said: “But what they are asking for is simply not affordable at a time when many of the communities we work with are also facing sharply rising costs”.
“As a real living wage employer and an organisation committed to tackling poverty, Oxfam is acutely aware of the impact of the rising cost of living on colleagues and addressing that is a priority for us.
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“That is why we chose to bring forward pay increases for lower-paid colleagues and why we have ensured that these colleagues will have received a real-terms pay increase over the past 12 months.
“We believe this pay award is fair and it is at the limit of what Oxfam can afford without taking vital resources away from our work fighting poverty with communities around the world.
“Colleagues understand that we face limited resources and tough choices, and we hope they will recognise that when casting their ballot.”
