Breaking news:

Just hours after Rooted Finance workers publicly announced their first strike days, management dismissed the vast majority of union members.

Although this fundraiser page was initially intended to grow members' strike fund, we have now repurposed it to support the workers through a period of unemployment. We cannot stand by as bosses at a debt advice charity put their own staff at risk of debt and hardship.

We will continue to fight for the reinstatement of these workers. But, in the meantime, please show solidarity with these workers to support them through this challenging period.

More info on the dispute:

The workers' decision to walk out followed an extended period of “anti-union and intimidatory tactics” from management.

The dispute at Rooted Finance began in December last year, when staff members belonging to the Independent Workers of Great Britain sent an open letter to management raising concerns over low pay and inadequate training, and requesting voluntary trade union recognition.

Management retaliated with a series of “intimidatory” one-to-one and group meetings where they made clear their opposition to workers forming a union. The majority of workers who signed the letter requesting union recognition have since then been summoned to disciplinaries and threatened with dismissal.

After Rooted Finance workers went public with their dispute, seven former employees signed a public letter echoing the accusations made against the charity and sharing their own experiences of toxic practices at the organisation. The allegations they made included unsafe working conditions, unsustainable workloads, a failure to take health issues seriously, and “intimidating and bullying behaviours” from management.

Workers are calling for increased pay in line with other debt advisors linked to the charity, appropriate training provision and an end to trade union victimisation.

And for collectively making these reasonable and necessary requests, they have been dismissed by Rooted Finance management.

The money we raise will go into (i) a Strike Fund to provide financial support to the remaining workers on strike and (ii) a hardship fund for those workers who have been dismissed. It will help ensure they can stand firm – and win both their strike demands and the reinstatement of the dismissed workers.

It may also be used for materials, equipment and other campaign expenses to build a strong and vibrant strike.

Any funds that aren't used as part of this campaign will be transferred to the IWGB Charity Workers Branch fighting fund for future campaigns and organising.