CLEANERS CALL FOR INSOURCING

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: july/august 2026 :: RMTnews 9 D elegates at RMT’s national industrial organising conference of transport cleaning workers in Aberystwyth sent a clear message to the government: ‘the era of outsourcing must end.’ Alex Grant, Cambrian spoke on the inconsistent terms and conditions faced by cleaners in his branch, noting that such discrepancies were commonplace elsewhere. Tim Butler, York and District led the call to strengthen the union’s campaign to end outsourcing and bring cleaners back in-house. “It doesn’t matter whether they work for train operating companies, Open Access, TfL or Network Rail, they should be treated equally,” he said. He called for the union to organise and develop a national campaign to end all outsourcing and for the union to carry out a full review of all cleaning grades rates of pay and conditions of service both in-house and outsourced workers. Conference backed his call for the union to develop an appropriate strategy to deliver the required changes which should: • End outsourcing and hold government to account • Review RMT policy of a minimum £15.00 per hour for all cleaners • Bring cleaners back in- house on meaningful and workable contracts “Bringing cleaners inhouse should be number one on the union’s agenda. “We need all cleaning and cleaners to be in-house on decent terms and conditions with appropriate rates of pay, with staff travel, sick pay and pensions across the entire rail network and undergrounds in the UK. “We need to liaise with the Department for Transport and Great British Railways to ensure that all cleaning on the rail network is in-house,” he added. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey explained the next stage of the union’s insourcing campaign was to “force the question” directly onto the government’s agenda, particularly where private contracts were “coming up for tender”. Conference also saw the launch and screening of a new video made in conjunction with the ITF as part of the union’s Better Jobs, Better Services campaign. Jonathan White of RMT national policy outlined how the union’s campaign was designed to hold the Labour government to account with their pledge to insource and integrate the railway. The video, which specifically addresses the issues cleaners face, showed RMT cleaners explaining the challenges they face and how the union was lobbying government and industry bodies. Ian Boyle of the union’s recruitment, retention and organising department, detailed how changes to the Employment Rights Act had given the union enhanced opportunities to gain recognition and recruit. He explained that while the union only had a small staff base dedicated to organisation the “strength is its activist base”. He led a workshop on mapping membership to ensure that all delegates left conference with the essential skills to both recruit members and understand the steps required for RMT workplace recognition. Steve Conway of the national executive reviewed the union’s work carried out arising from the motions from last year’s conference. He also reported on local cleaner grade pay deals, recognition and insourcing. Conference thanked the conference committee for all the logistical work in bringing the successful event together. CLEANERS CALL FOR INSOURCING