Friday 22 May 2026
For immediate release
Tower Hamlets housing workers to vote on strike action over pension cuts, says UNISON
Workers at Eastend Homes in Tower Hamlets are being balloted for strike action over plans to slash their retirement incomes, says UNISON today (Friday).
The company wants to move staff on to an inferior pension scheme that could see staff lose up to half their retirement income over the next ten years.
Staff are angry promises made in 2002 to protect access to their current pension scheme when workers transferred from Tower Hamlets Council to Eastend Homes are being broken.
The affected employees, including administrators and housing officers, say the changes could force them to continue working just to maintain a retirement income they thought was secure.
The ballot opened yesterday (Thursday) and closes on Friday 12 June.
UNISON Tower Hamlets branch secretary Kerie Anne said: “Eastend Homes employees are understandably angry at plans by managers to break promises and slash pensions.
“Many of these workers transferred from the local authority years ago on the understanding access to their current scheme would remain protected. They feel deeply betrayed.
“If Eastend Homes doesn’t reassure staff their pensions are safe, strike action looks likely.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members delivering public services in social care, education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy across the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media Contact:
Emma Davey E: e.davey@unison.co.uk M: 07432 733187
