Union members at Solace Women’s Aid are balloting on proposed strike action over “significant and imminent redundancies” that could cut the team by a third.

The United Voices of the World Union is representing employees at the domestic abuse support charity’s Tower Hamlets hub in east London. 

The team has 14 members and 12 are non-management employees who are being represented by the union.

The union said Tower Hamlets ranked second-highest in London for domestic abuse cases and the proposed redundancies would jeopardise critical support services provided to vulnerable residents across the borough.

Isabel Cortes, assistant general secretary for UVW, said: “Tower Hamlets cannot turn its back on survivors of domestic abuse.

“Cutting this team by a third is not just a funding decision, it’s a death sentence for countless women and families who rely on these life-saving services. 

“Domestic abuse is a national emergency, and Tower Hamlets council has a duty to safeguard those most at risk.

“The Solace workers are a lifeline for survivors. Their work saves lives.”

Solace confirmed it had started a consultation with some staff members in its Tower Hamlets team due to a funding reduction.

The charity said it could not share exact redundancy numbers because it was a confidential HR process.

“While some roles are at risk, Solace will seek to explore redeployment opportunities, which we have an excellent track record in achieving,” the charity said.

A spokesperson for Solace said the charity remained committed to supporting survivors in Tower Hamlets and across London while facing “increasing challenges” for its vital service funding.

“We have advocated 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,” the spokesperson said.

“We will keep working in partnership with those who fund our services to allow survivors to reach the services they need.”

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said there was no proposed change to the level of funding it provided to Solace.

The charity’s contract with the council is worth £1.4m from 2024 to 2026, up from the £783,452 it received between 2021 and 2024.

“We currently fund Solace to provide support to victims of domestic abuse in the borough,” the spokesperson said.

“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 it. However, we will continue to work with it to understand any proposed changes and to ensure that the support being provided to victims of domestic abuse, for which it receives funding, is not in any way impacted.”

The ballot closes on 31 January.