RMT press release, issued today

Time to talk, union tells poverty-wage contractors

A 48-HOUR strike by some 700 RMT members working for four cleaning subcontractors on London Underground is rock-solid, with more cleaners joining the union on the picket lines, the Tube’s biggest union says today.

Cleaners working for ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM began their second strike at 18:50 yesterday (Tuesday) evening and will not book on for shifts that begin before 18:59 tomorrow (Thursday).

MPs’ support for the cleaners continues to grow, with 37 signatures by today on a commons Early Day Motion condemning the employers for paying little more than £5.50 an hour and urging the mayor to ensure that contract cleaners are paid the London living wage.

“Our members overcame massive intimidation by these contract employers to deliver a massive vote for strike action, and now they have delivered a second rock-solid strike,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“More cleaners are joining the union on the picket lines so that they can join the strike, and there have been heartwarming displays of sympathy from Londoners who are disgusted at the poverty wages paid to the people who keep their Tube network fit for use.

“Our deepest thanks go out to the members of the public and MPs who have already lent their support, and we would urge people to tell ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM that they have a moral duty to pay a living wage, and to pay it now.

“These are all profitable companies that have feathered their shareholders’ nests on the backs of our members’ work, and rather than docking pay from cleaners who dare to talk to union reps they should be around the table discussing how to implement a living wage.

“The mayor is on record supporting the London living wage, and he should now prove it by bringing it about.

Tubelines has happily been raking profits at £1 million a week, and it is time for them to recognise their moral obligation and play their part in ending the shameful exploitation of the cleaners on their contracts.

“Our members do not want jam tomorrow, they want a living wage today,” Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: The cleaners' demands also include 28 days' holiday, sick pay, decent pensions and travel facilities, and an end to the barbaric practice of 'third-party sackings' in which cleaners can be dismissed, with no disciplinary hearing or right of appeal, at the behest parties other than the employer - a device used to get rid of union activists.

London Living Wage

From last week's Mayor's Question Time, Question No: 1205 / 2008

John Biggs: Will you retain the commission and will you support the living wage, including the annual, independent, assessment of its appropriate value? If so, will you ensure all GLA staff are covered by it and will you press for its wider adoption in London?

Mayor: Yes. I will shortly be announcing the 2008 living wage rate. All direct employees of the GLA Group are paid at least the living wage and as contracts are renewed I will seek to ensure that our temporary and contracted staff are as well. All employers in London should be encouraged to pay at least the Living Wage and I will be encouraging them to do so.