RMT DEMANDS LIVING WAGE FOR CLEANERS

RMTnews :: may 2007 :: www.rmt.org.uk 12 The RMT blimp flew over City Hall as cleaners on both overground and underground lobby to be paid the London Living Wage, which Mayor Livingstone’s office has calculated at £7.20 an hour. "Low pay among Tube and rail cleaners is an absolute scandal and tomorrow we will be lobbying City Hall to insist on decent minimum employment standards. "That means £7.20 an hour as the absolute minimum and a guarantee of 28 days' holiday. "But it should also mean direct employment - we need to get rid of parasite sub-contractors who make fortunes out of our members' misery. ISS VICTORY The unity of RMT cleaner members with the support of other members across the capital has already prevented 144 ISS cleaners being made compulsorily redundant. Cleaning contractor ISS withdrew the threat of compulsory redundancies against cleaners on its Tubelines contract after last- ditch talks. RMT told the company that it will not accept sackings that would result in dirty stations and trains, pose serious potential health, environmental and security problems and will unfairly increase the burden on remaining staff. ISS wanted to sack 140 cleaners after private consortium Tubelines reduced the value of its train-and-station-cleaning contract by more than 20 per cent. The company had already sacked staff with less than a year's service and sought those prepared to take voluntary severance. The union also called on Transport for London to block the sackings pending an inquiry into how the companies have manipulated the PPP contracts to their financial advantage. "Despite this victory the subbies are still putting the squeeze on and expecting ever more work on rock-bottom rates of pay, and the abuse has to stop," Bob Crow said. RMT DEMANDS LIVING WAGE FOR CLEANERS RMT general secretary Bob Crow joined Tube and rail cleaners outside City Hall in London last month to demand an end to poverty pay, 28 days’ minimum holiday and direct employment.