Massive Victory for ISS Cleaners

TUBE UNION RMT today secured a massive victory for low paid workers as it was confirmed today that all tube cleaners will be paid the London Living Wage of £7.85 per hour backdated to the 1st of July.

RMT has mounted a long and hard campaign for the cleaners to be paid the London minimum and the final group, the Tube Lines cleaners working for ISS, will at last join their colleagues on a decent rate of pay from this month.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:

“This is a massive and historic victory for RMT and our London Underground cleaners and will come as a boost for other low paid workers right across the city. It shows very clearly that if you join a union, get organised and stand up and fight then you can win major improvements to your rate of pay.

“For years we have mobilised the cleaners and mounted demonstrations – often in the teeth of the most outrageous intimidation – and today we see the culmination of that industrial and political pressure with this ground-breaking agreement on pay.

“It is a tribute to the solidarity, bravery and resilience of our members and their reps that they have stood firm and won this truly inspirational victory.

“We will now focus our energy on the fight for decent working conditions and facilities for the tube cleaners. With this victory on pay chalked up we move on to our demand for working conditions to match it.”

> RMT National News

Tuesday, 29th September
RAIL union RMT announced strike action today (September 29) on Chiltern Railways after members voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against driver-only operation (DOO) planned for East West Rail services.
Monday, 28th September
Rail union RMT demanded today (September 28) that Avanti West Coast outsourced staff be bought into direct employment after the government announced the train company will be brought under public ownership by next March.
Monday, 28th September
RMT today welcomed Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander’s announcement that Great British Railways will be allowed to buy and own its trains ‘where it can provide value for money’.
Friday, 25th September
RAIL union RMT will hold protests outside Labour Party conference meeting in Liverpool on Monday September 28 with striking outsourced rail workers to highlight low pay and calling for them to be taken in-house.
Thursday, 24th September
RAIL union RMT called for action against assaults today (September 24) after the latest figures revealed a 12 per cent increase of violence and abuse against rail workers.