Workers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) are continuing industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions, with Unite calling on the organisation’s trustees to help secure a settlement.
More than 300 Unite members working across scientific research, laboratory support and site management have taken strike action during the summer. The dispute is the first strike in the ICR’s 117-year history.
Workers rejected a 4% pay offer and are seeking pay restoration following what the union says has been a substantial real-terms erosion of wages since 2019. The dispute escalated to indefinite strike action earlier this month.
Unite says some employees now earn only slightly above the London Living Wage of £14.80 an hour, despite working for one of the world’s leading cancer research organisations.
A survey of Unite members at the ICR found 79% considered themselves worse off than a year earlier, while more than half were worried about meeting rent or mortgage costs. The union also reported that some staff were skipping meals or borrowing money to make ends meet.
The union has contrasted workers’ circumstances with the remuneration of senior management, highlighting that the ICR’s chief executive receives more than £400,000 a year.
Campaigners are now encouraging supporters to write directly to the ICR’s Board of Trustees and ask them to support the workers and press for a resolution.
The campaign argues that the people responsible for delivering internationally significant cancer research should receive fair pay and conditions, while Unite says its members remain determined to secure an agreement.
There have, however, been indications of movement in the dispute. A report following negotiations this month said issues including incremental pay scales and pensions had returned to discussions, raising hopes that an agreement could be possible.
The dispute highlights wider concerns about the pay and retention of scientists, technicians and other specialist staff responsible for delivering medical research in Britain.
Unite is urging supporters to contact the ICR trustees and back what it describes as the “people behind the research”.
