Union Backs Week of Action against Council House Sell-Offs

A trade union has given its backing to a week of action intended to oppose the “destruction” of London’s council housing stock. Unite has accused the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, of making the capital’s housing crisis worse. On his watch, the union said “the story has been one of ‘affordable homes’ that few can afford, a growing number of evictions and the destruction of communities”. The stated aim of the week of action is to “block” the Mayor’s budget, which faces a vote in City Hall on Monday 23 February. Read more on the Housing Excellence website.

‘Super Rich’ And Wealthy Property Developers Cash In On Britain’s Housing Crisis

The ‘super rich’, wealthy domestic and foreign property developers and ‘old money’ aristocrats are cashing in on Britain’s housing crisis, while 1.8 million households languish on council waiting lists. These are the stark conclusions in a briefing by Unite, the country’s largest union, over fears that property developers could stitch up deals that would hit council tenants and leaseholders in London and elsewhere in the country. “Unite believes that councils and public bodies are pressurised by a combination of government, developers, and funding cuts to use publicly-owned land for majority-private housing development.” Read more on the Unite website.

'Heartless' Move Could Hit Homeless, Warns Union

Homelessness charity St Mungo's has been branded "heartless" after deciding to stop managing a hostel in Hitchin. Unite, the UK's biggest union, has slammed the move and said that it raises "big questions" about how homeless people in North Hertfordshire will now fare. Read more on 24dash.

Families Still Face Bedroom Tax Misery Despite Late Concessions

The UK's biggest union has dismissed the government's decision to exempt foster carers and members of the armed forces from its bedroom tax policy as a "cynical ploy".  Unite says that the exemptions will not help the majority of the 660,000 people set to be hit by the policy, which comes into force on April 1.  The union claims that separated parents who share the care of their children and families with disabled children will continue to lose out by an average of £14 per week under the new under-occupancy rules, whilst two thirds of those affected will be people with disabilities.  Read more on the Unite website.

Campaigners Unite To Fight Housing Benefit Cuts

More than 30 tenant, trade union and campaign groups are linking up to build a national umbrella campaign to fight cuts to housing benefit.  Initial plans from The Campaign for Benefit Justice, which will also oppose ‘attacks’ on other benefits, include protests aimed at Lord Freud, the welfare minister, and Iain Duncan Smith, secretary of state for work and pensions. The campaign will also stage a protest on Budget day and a summit in London. The 31 groups backing the campaign include Defend Council Housing and Disabled People Against Cuts campaigns and the trade unions Unite and the Public and Commercial Services Union.  Read more on the Defend Council Housing website.