RMT press release, issued today

RMT TUBE cleaners and their supporters will demonstrate tomorrow at the Greenwich offices of cleaning contractor ISS against its victimisation of union reps following last year’s successful strike for the London living wage.

One RMT rep has already been sacked and another faces disciplinary charges in vindictive attacks on the union following its historic victory against ISS and other Tube cleaning contractors.

Clara Osagiede, secretary of RMT’s Tube cleaners group, faces a gross misconduct charge despite being on recognised union duties when she was accused of failing to return to her workplace. Local rep Mary Boakye has already been fired on trumped-up charges of sleeping on the job.

Both face hearings on Thursday, and RMT members and supporters will gather at 11 am outside the company’s Greenwich office, Hamilton House, 15 Park Vista, SE10 9LZ.

“Union reps at ISS are picked on for disciplinary charges far more often than other employees and the company is clearly acting vindictively after the union secured its historic victory against low pay,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“Clara Osagiede faces a gross misconduct charge for carrying out her union duties as a rep, which would be massively disproportionate to the alleged offence even if it were true.

“Rather than picking on union reps the company should be engaging with them to find ways of improving relations,” Bob Crow said.

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Note to editors: Some 700 RMT cleaners working for cleaning subcontractors ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM took strike action in June and July last year, winning a commitment to pay the London living wage of at least £7.45 an hour.