TUBE CLEANERS STRIKE FOR PAY JUSTICE

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: february 2013 :: RMTnews 6 T he newly-elected national health and safety advisory committee members gathered at head office for their first meeting last month. This is the start of a new term of office for these health and safety reps until 2016. The committee’s responsibilities include advising the Council of Executives on matters of health and safety relevant to the entire RMT membership. This meeting’s main business was to agree the agenda and final arrangements for the 11th national health and safety advisory conference being held in Doncaster this month. Contact details for the advisory committee members are posted on the RMT website. HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE: Left to right Don Hawkswood – Region 6, Birmingham Engineering branch, Iain Minto – Region 4, Newcastle and Gateshead branch, Keith Simpson - Region 2/3, Chester branch, Bernie Ladd – Region 10, Colchester and District branchLee Davison – Shipping 1, Dover Shipping branch, Peter Martin – Region 11, East Ham branch, Steven Hampton – Region 7, Bristol Rail branch, Nic Phillips – Region 8, Mid-Cornwall Rail, Furqan Hijazi – Region 5, Leeds Goods and Cartage, Willie Strang – Region 1, Edinburgh No.1 & Portobello, Richard Constable – Region 9, Deptford T ube cleaners working for Initial and ISS took strike action over the New Year in their fight for fair pay and workplace justice. RMT cleaner members took strike action from December 31 to January 2 2013. RMT general secretary Bob Crow said that revellers must not forget the London transport cleaners on minimum pay rates doing some of the dirtiest jobs in often appalling conditions with no proper recognition and reward whatsoever. “It is these same staff who have played a key role in keeping services clean and safe who are now forced again by their employers to take action for a living wage and recognition of their efforts. "2013 has to be about equality, inclusiveness and social justice and that's what our cleaners are standing up for as the spotlight shines on London. Instead of forcing our members back out onto the picket lines these profitable companies should be round the table with us negotiating a fair deal for the cleaners. “It is also time for London Mayor Boris Johnson to stop talking about a Living Wage and start acting to make sure that contractors on his services actually deliver it,” he said. NEW NATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ELECTED TUBE CLEANERS STRIKE FOR PAY JUSTICE