UNDERPAID workers at homeless charity Shelter are struggling to afford their own rent, Unite has warned as staff prepare to launch two weeks of unprecedented strike action.

The walkouts, set to hit the organisation’s offices across England and Scotland from today until December 16, follow “hypocritical and heartless” bosses imposing a real terms pay cut of 11 per cent, the union charged. 

This year’s 3 per cent wage deal amounts to a massive cut as the RPI inflation rate soars to 14.2 per cent, stressed Unite, which accused management of refusing to enter meaningful negotiations. 

One Shelter employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told the union: “I’m a single parent. I’m now in overdraft every month and I go around switching my lights off and turning the boiler down.

“The best acknowledgement for all my hard work is decent pay.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham slammed the “unforgivable” situation and confirmed that offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh and Aberdeen will be among those affected.

The charity has claimed that a £1,500 one-off payment actually takes its pay deal to 12.3 per cent for some staff.