Social housing regulator staff walk out over pay freeze

About 220 Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) workers in London, Manchester and Milton Keynes walked out with their colleagues, bringing together the Unite and PCS unions.

The HCA has had its budget cut by 30 per cent by axeman George Osborne.

But its new chief executive Andy Rose will take home £160,000 a year - about £20,000 more than his predecessor.

Unite national officer Sally Kosky said some staff would see no pay rise at all, despite a two-year pay freeze and a 13 per cent rise in inflation since the economic crisis began.

And general secretary Len McCluskey said the walkout by 100 Unite members was an act in solidarity "against the savage attack by the coalition on public services and those dedicated staff that deliver them.

"We will continue support and campaign for our members in the public sector against the attacks on their living standards and the services they deliver on a daily basis to the disadvantaged and vulnerable.

"Unite stands in solidarity with the tens of thousands of PCS members taking action on Friday to defend jobs, pay and services," he said.