CLEANING JOBS MATTER

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: june 2023 :: RMTnews 10 “We’re in momentous times,” RMT senior assistant general secretary Eddie Dempsey said as he opened this year’s national industrial organising conference of cleaning workers. Amid the highest level of industrial action specific to cleaning grades in the union’s history, he continued: “You’re an important conference to this union, I think you’re going to be one of the most important conferences over the next year or two”. The conference took place in Birmingham and top of the agenda was the inadequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to cleaners and delegates highlighted particular problems with contractor Churchills. A motion described items of protective wear as “mostly uncomfortable to work with”, highlighting pain-inducing safety shoes and “heavy and hurtful” winter jackets. Serwaa Boateng, South London Rail said: “As we all know cleaners are being neglected for PPE, especially in Churchill’s. “To be given one item of PPE to last for a year is uncomfortable for us. Most of the cleaners are reporting that when they are recruited, they are being asked to provide their own PPE”. Tim Butler, York & District said: “It’s not a request, it’s a requirement. It needs to be correct PPE. You can just have there’s a male uniform and there’s a female cleaner, and it doesn’t fit”. Joseph Mambuliya, Finsbury Park said: “We are being exploited because we are doing more than we are supposed to and personal equipment is so important for safety”. Roy Osarogiagbon, Jubilee South stressed the need to put requests for adequate PPE in writing, while Amar Barouche, Euro Passenger Services noted: “They force you to buy your own safety shoes”. Amen Charles Usiomoifo, Euro Passenger Services warned: “While I’m in support of the resolution, the onus is on us as reps to hold these companies accountable”. Delegates also backed concerns over the national cleaning campaign not including in-sourcing as one of its key demands and agreed to raise the issue of in-sourcing at the union’s AGM this month. Tim Butler said: “It is union policy and should be on the table at every company council. We’re in a national dispute and it isn’t being raised - why not?” Backing the motion, Eddie Dempsey said that the insourcing of cleaners has been in the national dispute but more needed to be done. “If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ve not pushed this as hard as it should be,” he said. Conference also called for action for cleaners who are already employed in-house by rail companies. A motion from York & District noted that “in- house cleaners in Northern Rail will see little change to their terms and conditions as part of this dispute”. Delegates also raised worries that a negotiated pay increase at train operating companies would still leave in- house cleaners short-changed. “If you look what’s in the pay offer for the RDG… that still CLEANING JOBS MATTER Cleaning members discuss pay, protective clothing and the campaign for insourcing