WORKERS at a Merseyside housing association who have been hammered by years of real-term pay cuts upped the ante in their fight for a fair wage today.

Repair, maintenance and call centre staff at Livv Housing first walked out last October.

The social housing provider rejected a 10 per cent pay claim last January, and instead attempted to slash the proposed raise by half — a move workers refused.

Knowsley Unison branch secretary James Robinson said that the offer did not go anywhere close to restoring the 30 per cent real-terms pay cuts faced by members over the last decade.

“Some of our members actually live in Livv Housing homes, and last year their rent went up by 7.7 per cent, set by this board, but at the same time, [they are] only putting their pay up by 5 per cent.” 

He added that some members had been relying on foodbanks to make ends meet.

Meanwhile, the firm’s top boss has been awarded a generous 18 per cent pay rise since 2022 — pocketing a £253k salary last year.

Unison regional organiser Tony Caffery said: “She earns more than a brain surgeon, more than the Prime Minister, more than the metro mayor of Liverpool City region. 

“They’ve got the money, they could afford to settle this, they just don’t want to.”

Livv Housing, which manages 13,000 properties primarily in Knowsley, has reported £110.6 million in reserves. 

Over the last five years, the firm has recorded annual surpluses ranging from £14m to £25m. 

Unite rep Kevin Byrne said the dispute is not just about pay but also terms and conditions that have eroded over the years.

“We used to have a generous pension — a legacy from the council days. 

“We've now got the worst pension in the sector. It’s absolutely on the floor, which means that our members will be in poverty in retirement on the current trajectory.”

In one anti-union move, Livv tried to lure workers with a five-per cent raise before Christmas, contingent on them confirming they were “non-union members,” Unite reported. 

A Livv Housing spokesperson said that it benchmarks all salaries every three years to ensure market rates and have awarded pay increases of 9-11 per cent to many workers over the past year, adding: “We are currently working with Acas to find a resolution that is agreeable to all parties while being financially sustainable for the future of our business.”