London architectural workers initiate ‘historic’ strike action

Workers at London practice Atomik Architecture are facing redundancies after they teamed up to initiate strike action over low pay and working conditions.

Four out of the firm’s eight staff are preparing for a “historic” strike ballot in what is believed to be one of the first cases of industrial action by private sector architectural workers in the UK.

Bosses at the practice have refused to postpone a redundancy consultation meeting for all staff due to take place today. The striking staff members’ union, the Section of Architectural Workers (SAW), had asked for the meeting to be delayed to give them more time to prepare.

Atomik works mostly in refurbishment projects, including a refurb and extension of the grade II-listed Thorpe Lodge villa for Holland Park School. The practice also has an office in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and has worked on a restoration of the floors of Zenkov Cathedral in the city.

All workers at the practice had been given what Atomik director Mike Oades claims was a 7% pay rise in June, when UK inflation stood at 9.4% in the year.

However, in a letter seen by Building Design, Oades told staff they would be offered a 4% pay rise with a one-off 3% bonus “in recognition of your hard work and achievements over the last year”.

Workers had then written a collective letter outlining their demands, which included a 10% pay rise, reduced working hours, flexible working arrangements, paid training and trade union recognition. It is understood management had responded by agreeing to meet with the workers, but had refused to negotiate. 

SAW said during the meeting, directors “appeared to fail to understand the serious impact rising living costs were having on workers, and flat out refused to share financial information for the company, both of which left the workers frustrated and distrustful.”

After workers notified their bosses they were in dispute over pay and conditions, Atomik triggered a redundancy consultation. This is said to have come as a shock to workers, who had been under the impression the company was seeking to expand its headcount. A spokesperson for Atomik declined to comment but said the notice of redundancy and the notice of dispute were “separate issues”.

SAW said: “After two years of uncertainty and low wage growth, architectural workers are refusing to accept the cost of living squeeze whilst they deliver profits for their employers”

The striking staff have issued a joint statement saying they had been forced into action which was a last resort. “We are disappointed that Atomik has continuously dismissed and ignored our individual and collective concerns.”

“We were expecting to collaborate to improve conditions at the practice but instead, we have had months of empty promises and zero progress. We have all worked at Atomik for a number of years, but that loyalty has not been reciprocated in meaningful improved pay or working conditions,” they said.

SAW was founded in 2019 with the backing of former RIBA presidential candidate Elsie Owusu. It is a part of the union United Voices of the World, which is based in London and mostly represents migrant and low-paid workers.

SAW representative Jake Arnfield said the cost of living crisis has been made worse for those working in architecture, a profession which has had stagnant wages for two decades.

According to RIBA figures, the average architect was earning £40,000 in 2013. This rose to £45,000 in 2018, but had fallen to £41,000 in 2021, meaning salaries have fallen in real terms by around 20% in the past nine years.

Arnfield said numerous groups of architectural workers are looking “very seriously” at industrial action as one way to resolve this, and that a single strike could trigger a wave of strikes this autumn and winter.

“If you work in architecture, we encourage you to get behind Atomik workers. Their success is part of the movement to raise wages and eliminate rampant exploitation in the sector,” he said.

UVW general secretary Petros Elia said: “We believe our members at Atomik are the first ever group of private sector architects to ballot to strike, so if this strike goes ahead it will be an industry first, and one that all architects and members of the movement should get behind. 

He added: “UVW has shown yet again that there is no group of workers who are unorganisable, and whether you are an architect or a cleaner, you have the power and every reason to unite, fight and strike. 

“I call on Atomik’s bosses to negotiate with us and avoid what could become incredibly operationally and reputationally damaging strike action which will receive the full support of our union. The choice is yours.”

RIBA board member for culture and events Jo Bacon said in July the problem of stagnant wages being partly caused by clients increasingly demanding fixed fees, and practices not building enough inflation into those fees.

Muyiwa Oki, the winner of the 2022 RIBA presidential election, is a vocal supporter of increasing pay and working conditions for architectural workers and was backed by SAW in his campaign.