The current crisis is the direct result of a seven-month period of bad faith bargaining by Change Grow Live management. Executive directors repeatedly delayed meetings and stretched the process out while staff actively struggled with rising living costs.
Management refused to share detailed organizational budgets or expenses. They asked staff to blindly trust their claims of affordability while hiding the financial books. When the union presented the devastating cost of living survey results, the Chief Executive and the Board of Trustees completely failed to respond. During the final conciliation meetings, senior managers resorted to personal attacks. They declared they would not play Santa Claus and reward bad behavior by offering an improved deal to their struggling workforce.
The Timeline of Disrespect
Date and Milestone | Campaign Action and Negotiation Event | Strategic Outcome and Notes |
|---|---|---|
23 October 2025 | Unite delivers the cost of living survey results. | CGL executive management fails to respond to the data. |
24 October 2025 | First formal pay negotiation meeting. | Unite presents a member-led claim for a 6.7% pay increase. |
16 January 2026 | Unite delivers survey results to the board of trustees. | CGL trustees and executive directors fail to respond. |
20 January 2026 | Second formal pay negotiation meeting. | CGL offers a 2.5% increase, a real-terms cut of 2%. |
16 February 2026 | Unite presents the results of the union ballot. | 94% of union members reject the pay offer on a 62% turnout. |
20 February 2026 | Third formal pay negotiation meeting. | CGL management fails to present an improved offer. |
13 March 2026 | Consultative industrial action ballot opens. | Unite launches a vote on potential strike action. |
18 March 2026 | Fourth formal pay negotiation meeting. | Management fails to present a new offer, and ACAS is invited to intervene. |
10 April 2026 | Consultative industrial action ballot closes. | The ballot returns a strong mandate for industrial action. |
13 April 2026 | Unite presents the ballot results to CGL. | 87% vote yes to strikes, and 93% vote yes to action short of strike. |
12 May 2026 | Deputy CEO issues a pay ultimatum. | An email is published on the intranet while the executive is on leave. |
20 May 2026 | Fifth pay meeting under ACAS conciliation. | Management refuses to negotiate, and announces they will impose the pay cut. |
2 June 2026 | Scheduled public demonstration. | Protest at King’s Cross CGL Service to present 2,988 letters. |