Mental health workers across south west England strike

Mental health workers’ picket line in Bristol

Over 100 mental health workers began a two-day strike across south west England on Wednesday.

The Unison union members, who work for charity Second Step, are demanding a pay rise of at least 5 percent.

They are based across Bristol, Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire. This follows strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week.

Rosie, a Unison rep at Second Step, was on the picket line outside the charity’s headquarters on Pennywell Road, Bristol.

She told Socialist Worker that the dispute is “over the 2025-26 pay award, which was rejected by Unison members”. “But management went ahead and implemented 2 percent anyway. We are asking for 5.5 percent. We are also asking for union recognition.

“The pay rise is economic, but recognition is political. They know there’s power in a union.

“Management is not used to having to negotiate about anything and they very much don’t want to do that,” said Rosie. “I think they’re worried that it will set a precedent for having to negotiate about lots of other things—because it will, of course.”

Second Step delivers NHS and local authority services for people with mental health struggles. Workers provide mental health support in the community as well as specialist services such as suicide prevention and suicide bereavement services.

Despite the important and difficult work they do, workers have seen the value of their wages fall each year.

Terry is a mental health worker at Second Step and has worked for the charity for 21 years. He told Socialist Worker, “We haven’t had a pay rise for many, many years. And it’s a frontline service.”

“People’s mental health has been suffering with austerity for so many years. I think the general public realises that mental health workers are doing a good job. All we’re asking for is fairness,” said Terry.

Emily, a recovery worker, told Socialist Worker that the cost of living crisis was creating huge financial hardship for those on strike. “Many of my colleagues are struggling,” she said, “I want to get down, and to support them, and be here. We’re all fighting this together.”

Terry added that the strike was picking up momentum. “Lots of people have joined the union since we’ve been in dispute so the numbers are gradually rising as well.”

Beth, another striker, told Socialist Worker, “For me, at the real core of this is the arrogance of not recognising our union.

“So, in terms of pay, of course that’s important. But for management to not even be involved in the discussion is the thing I find insulting.

Beth added, “We choose to do this work because it’s something really important to us.

“The insinuation that by striking we’re somehow neglecting our duties, I find it insulting. We wouldn’t be in this position, if management were talking.

Strikers plan to escalate their action with a mass picket planned for next Thursday 29 January. Rather than picketing at different sites, workers will come together at the Second Step headquarters.

Trade unions in Bristol and across south west England should raise solidarity in their workplaces and join the mass picket.