ABM Cleaners

The following resolution submitted by Finsbury Park Branch was carried unanimously at the October 27th Regional Council meeting.

Update: London Underground has revised its offer to four years: 5% this year, RPI+0.5% (minimum 2%) for years 2, 3 and 4.

RMT workplace representatives will be discussing this at a meeting on Tuesday 4 October.You work hard, your employer makes money from your efforts, and you have bills to pay. So your union organises members to win better pay and working conditions. RMT aims to achieve:

• above-inflation pay rises - anything else is a pay cut in real terms, as your outgoings increase faster than your income;

RMT General Grades Committee decision:

We note the report from our Regional Organiser, that Initial intends to increase the pay of cleaners on its London Underground contract in line with the London Living Wage, to £8.30 per hour, as it is contractually bound to do. The company has not yet advised us of its intended pay rise for supervisor, and has rejected every other element of our pay and conditions claim.

RMT CLEANERS have forced contractor John Laing Integrated Services to recognise the union on London Overground following an organising campaign that has seen the vast majority of the workforce join the union since the end of March.

A ballot carried out under Central Arbitration Committee rules after the firm refused to enter into a voluntary agreement returned a six-to-one vote to give RMT bargaining rights for the staff, who work from depots at Acton, Gospel Oak, New Cross Gate and Willesden.

RMT's General Grades Committee has agreed a detailed campaign to organise workers in Carlisle Cleaning and Support Services. This is a national campaign, which will initially start outside our Region. However, it is relevant to our Region, as Carlisle holds contracts in London Transport, including TfL/LU secruity staff and Docklands Light Railway cleaners.

Here is the full GGC decision:

Circular from Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary ...

Earlier this year I wrote to Carlisle Cleaning & Support Services expressing my utmost concern over the company’s assertion that the RMT only had direct bargaining and recognition rights for three Carlisle Cleaning and Support Contracts, namely Eurostar, London Midland and Alstom/West Coast.

Our cleaning grade vice-chair has drafted the following proposal for an organising strategy for cleaners. It will be discussed in detail at the Regional Council Executive meeting on 9 November.

1. Let cleaners know what is happening with ISS & Initial

2. Go out any recruit cleaners from all shifts and both companies

3.Explain what we can do for cleaners

4. Get cleaners to stand for reps as we are short of them

5. Tell cleaners what both companies are doing to the grade and the union

Click '1 attachment' / file name to download the new issue of our 'RMT London Calling' newsletter. It urges members to join the fight against the ConDem government's cuts; condemns London Underground's latest job cuts announcement; and reports on RMT's campaigns on Docklands Light Railway, Initial (cleaners) and Alstom.