TAKE BACK TUBE CLEANING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: october 2020 :: RMTnews 7 R MT has called on the Mayor of London to take back control of the Underground cleaning and put an end to the outdated dogma of outsourcing after the outsourcing company ABM doubled its profits in the last financial year while cutting the number of cleaners working to keep Londoners safe on the tube. RMT said that it was a scandal that staff in the front line of keeping the tube clean and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic were facing job cuts while their employer is rolling in cash. ABM’s annual accounts show that the company  posted pre-tax profits of £4.5 million for 2019, almost double what it made in 2018 (£2.39 million). Meanwhile, figures released by the Mayor in July reveal that the company has cut the equivalent of 139 full time cleaners jobs since it took over the contract in 2017, leaving the capital under-resourced and under-prepared for the pandemic. RMT warned back in July that the outsourcing contract was not fit for purpose, pointing to clauses in the contract that commit the company to seeking savings every year and it pointed to research in the hospitals sector which demonstrates that outsourcing cleaning is less safe in terms of public health than employing cleaners in- house. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that the Covid-19 crisis had once and for all nailed the lie that cleaning is ‘non-core’ and can be safely outsourced to the profiteers. “It’s time we started to treat cleaning and cleaners like the essential service they are. ABM have been driving up profits by cutting cleaners jobs, leaving the Underground less safe as a result. “We need a totally new approach to cleaning in public transport and Sadiq Khan need to show a lead by bringing this contract in house when it expires in 2022,” he said. R MT has condemned LUL plans to completely eliminate the option of using cash to purchase tickets. The plans are an assault on the thousands of customers who only use cash, often because their financial situation means they have no access to a bank account or a contactless payment method. It will also inevitably lead to confrontations on the gateline with front line staff and revenue control inspectors. Crucially, it will cost the company significant amounts of money, at a time where every pound is precious with lower numbers travelling. The proposal is in direct contravention of LUL’s own bylaws and Penalty Fare Act which are crystal clear in stating that ticket issuing facilities must be available at the time and station at start of journey. The union said that this ill thought out policy was a charter for fare evaders to easily travel for free. RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that at a time when London Underground is under the financial spotlight it was farcical that they would bring in a policy that will lose them millions. “It’s also beyond comprehension that with fare evasion at a all time high, they would actually open a loop hole that will allow ticketless travel that couldn’t be enforced under their own bylaws. “For a company that apparently prides itself on being ‘A world class customer service provider’ it beggars belief that they are going to disenfranchise millions of people – including many low paid, tourists and seniors – that still only use cash. “RMT will be fighting this policy with all available resources,” he said. MT has called on the Mayor of London to take back control of the Underground cleaning and put an end to the outdated while their employer is rolling in cash. ABM’s annual accounts show that the company posted pre-tax profits of £4.5 RMT warned back in July that the outsourcing contract was not fit for purpose, pointing to clauses in the contract that commit the ‘non-core’ and can be safely outsourced to the profiteers. “It’s time we started to treat cleaning and cleaners like the essential service they are. ABM TAKE BACK TUBE CLEANING TUBE PLANS TO REFUSE CASH FOR TICKETS