Domestic abuse workers to strike indefinitely over potentially ‘catastrophic’ job cuts

Domestic abuse workers in Tower Hamlets have voted to strike “indefinitely” over proposed job cuts they say will put victims and survivors at risk.

Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) from the charity Solace Women’s Aid will begin strike action on 14 February.

The workers, who are members of United Voices of the World (UVW) union, returned a 100 per cent vote in favour of strike action, based on a 92 per cent turnout.

A spokesperson for Solace said due to the merging of different funding streams, it had begun consulting with some staff and was looking at plans to explore “redeployment opportunities”.

However, UVW claims the job losses could see the team cut by a third, warning this would have a “catastrophic impact” on its service users, who are predominantly women and children.

The service, which receives funding from Tower Hamlets Council, provides free support to high-risk survivors of domestic violence.

Workers help to tackle systemic barriers faced by victims, such as navigating immigration law, and financial and legal challenges.

Tower Hamlets is the second-highest ranked borough for domestic abuse cases in London.

Between April and December 2024, Solace workers managed 1,139 referrals and supported 227 victim-survivors.

Karina Cuji, who works as an IDVA and is a UVW member, said: “We want victims of domestic violence in Tower Hamlets to receive a high-quality service, but these cuts will not only prevent us from doing so, but also leave many victims without any support.”

Another worker and UVW member who wished to speak anonymously said: “Cutting one third of our team will result in further harm to victims of domestic abuse in Tower Hamlets.

“Our main priority with this strike is to highlight the importance of our service and the impact on the community if the team is reduced.”

UVW’s assistant general secretary, Isabel Cortés, said: “Our members refuse to stand by while jobs are axed and survivors are left without the support they need. They have called indefinite strike action which shows their determination to stand up and win for all victims/survivors in Tower Hamlets.”

She added: “A third of the team gone means a third fewer women getting the life-saving support they need. Should the strike action go ahead, it will have a significant impact on support for survivors. UVW members are striking with a heavy heart, but they are doing so to preserve services in the long run.”

The workers have urged Solace management and the council to meet with them for talks.

A council spokesperson previously told the Citizen that it had no plans to change the level of funding it provided.

On 6 February, Solace workers will host a rally outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall in Whitechapel.

A spokesperson for Solace said: “We have started a confidential consultation process with some staff members within this team due the merging of different funding streams, Solace will seek to explore redeployment opportunities, which we have an excellent track record in achieving.

“Solace continues all efforts to work collaboratively and constructively with everyone involved including our staff, London Borough of Tower Hamlets and staff representatives.”

They went on to say that the charity remained committed to supporting survivors in Tower Hamlets and across London against increased funding challenges.

The spokesperson added: “We advocate hard to maintain our services at a local level and call for sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse charities at a national level, and will continue to do so.

“Solace operates in a fast-paced, responsive environment and where services change, we always ensure that these are safe for survivors including making certain that caseloads are appropriate and survivors receive a quality service.”

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council previously told the Citizen: “We currently fund Solace to provide support to victims of domestic abuse in the borough and to be clear, there is no proposed change to the level of funding from the council.

“How Solace structures itself as an organisation is a matter for them, however we will continue to work with them to understand any proposed changes and to ensure that the support being provided to victims of domestic abuse, for which they receive funding, is not in any way impacted.”