Striking maintenance workers at a homeless charity protested a “bullying culture” amid claims grievances with senior management have been ignored.

Around a dozen Unite members, who are responsible for day-to-day repairs of St Mungo's housing units across a number of London boroughs, including Lewisham, have been on all out strike since April 22.

The strike was called after several staff grievances against property services senior management were allegedly dismissed.

The union said these claims had not been properly investigated and that a workplace representative is now being unfairly subjected to disciplinary proceedings as a direct result of raising the initial grievance, claims the charity refutes.

Unite regional officer Steve O’Donnell said: “St Mungo's suspended our member who raised the grievance for gross misconduct as they viewed it as vexatious, despite two other members independently raising similar allegations.

“While publicly stating that it is committed to finding a solution, the charity has ignored requests to lift the suspension and commission an independent review into the allegations. A letter from Unite asking St Mungo’s chair Robert Napier CBE to intervene has also gone unanswered.

“The fact is that we have given St Mungo’s ample opportunity to act on the genuine concerns of its staff. But instead of resolving this dispute sensibly, something that could have happened weeks ago, the charity decided to make a bad situation worse.

“Having an entire department out on strike is not good for St Mungo’s operations or its reputation. But our members are rock solid in their determination to continue striking until St Mungo’s takes action to address the bullying and anti-union culture amongst its management.”

Unite pointed to the targeting of the 44 per cent of workplace reps at the charity, who are currently engaged in formal processes concerning their own employment, as further evidence of an anti-union bias by management.

The union protestors, who gathered on Arlington Close last Friday, were joined by members of Lewisham Trades Union Council and Lewisham council cabinet member for housing Paul Bell, who has called a meeting with the charity’s management over the dispute.

A St Mungo’s spokesperson said: “St Mungo’s wholeheartedly refutes these claims and worked hard to try to avoid this industrial action which was voted for by eight people in our Property Services Department based elsewhere in London.

“We have implemented contingency plans to ensure that the work of that department is managed, and the disruption to our services minimal.

“We are disappointed that this has not yet been resolved but remain committed to trying to do so, and continue to work with our unions.

“Our focus, as ever, remains the health and wellbeing of our clients and staff.”