Cleaners At Waterloo Mainline Station To Strike As Scrooge Bosses Continue To Attack Workforce

Following three earlier phases of rock solid action over the past two months, cleaners employed by Interserve, looking after the busy and internationally famous Waterloo Station in London, are to strike again in the New Year over a comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations relating to a whole range of fundamental issues including;

  • the unwarranted victimisation and dismissal of RMT members
  • ignorance of basic employment rights and failure to follow agreed procedures
  • underpayment of wages
  • bullying and harassment of staff

Members have been instructed to CEASE work during the following hours:-

"RMT is demanding workplace justice for the cleaners at Waterloo" - Mick Cash
  • 05:00 hours and 07:00 hours on Tuesday 6th January 2015
  • 08:00 hours and 10:00 hours on Tuesday 6th January 2015
  • 17:00 hours and 19:00 hours on Tuesday 6th January 2015
  • 05:00 hours and 07:00 hours on Monday 12th January 2015
  • 08:00 hours and 10:00 hours on Monday 12th January 2015
  • 17:00 hours and 19:00 hours on Monday 12th January 2015

Staff have been given a clear instruction to stop work and “down tools” during the above hours and times and then return to work when the strike ends.

RMT has written to Network Rail, who have responsibility for the Waterloo contract, sending them examples of the racism in the workplace and asking them to intervene but so far the union has had no response.

RMT has challenged Network Rail directly over their failure, and the failure of their contractors Interserve, to adhere to their own diversity policy:

“Section 1:1 of your organisation’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy (2013) states that the agreement “covers all employees, contractors, temporary workers and job applicants including people working on Network Rail premises via a third party.” Therefore, my union holds Network Rail ultimately responsible for this situation which, if allowed to continue, will inevitably lead to further industrial action at one of your flagship managed stations. In this respect I am asking you to directly intervene by informing Interserve that racism is unacceptable in the workplace and that they are in breach of your Diversity and Inclusion Policy.”

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said ;
"RMT and the entire trade union movement salutes the rock solid strike action of the Interserve workers over the past two months and their determination to secure workplace justice. Due to the intransigence of the company we now have no option but to declare a fourth wave of action. As travellers are heading home this Christmas Eve full of festive bonhomie they should stop and talk to the station cleaners about their shocking working conditions. Old man Scrooge is alive and well in this City on Christmas Eve 2014 and calling the shots at one of our busiest railway stations.

“The overwhelming support for continuing action shows clearly that this determined and organised group of staff are not going to put up with the outrageous culture of racism, bullying and harassment and they deserve the full support of the entire labour and trade union movement. RMT has now raised directly with Network Rail the flagrant breaches of their own diversity policies.

“These staff are doing dirty jobs in often appalling conditions and the very least that they can expect is to be treated with dignity and respect. Not only are our members being denied the most basic levels of fair treatment and workplace rights but they are being subjected to a daily regime of bullying, victimisation and harassment which includes disgraceful incidents of racist abuse.

“Interserve, and Waterloo Station itself, cannot sweep this situation under the carpet. RMT is demanding workplace justice for the cleaners at Waterloo and the union remains available for talks aimed at securing that.”