Video and Press Release: RMT cleaners at Eurostar strike over pay, jobs and bullying

RAIL UNION RMT today launched a global campaign in support of Eurostar cleaners who are locked in a bitter dispute with their employers - the Carlisle Group - over pay, threatened redundancies, the introduction of finger printing machines and the victimisation of a union representative.

At the end of last week the Eurostar cleaners took part in a rock-solid 48 hour strike with a noisy picket line taking their message of respect and justice out to the travelling public.

Today, RMT have linked up with international website Labour Start to launch a global email campaign targeted at Eurostar and calling on the company to intervene in the dispute and demand that their cleaning contractors pay their staff the London Living Wage, scrap the Orwellian finger printing machines and start treating the cleaners with the respect that they deserve.

The global Eurostar cleaners campaign can be reached at - http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c...

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said:

“Eurostar is a global brand and it makes perfect sense for us to launch a global trade union campaign in support of our members here in London fighting for justice.

“Eurostar cannot ignore the actions of their cleaning contractors, the Carlisle Group, which have forced our members into a campaign of industrial action. The cleaners voted 100% to strike which is a measure of how angry they are.

“RMT is determined to use every means at our disposal to win the fight for justice and respect for the Eurostar cleaners including a global cyber-picket to shine a spotlight on the appalling way that this group of workers is being treated.”

> RMT National News

Saturday, 20th September
Bus workers at First South West in Somerset and Cornwall will be balloted for strike action after the company refused to improve a penny-pinching pay offer.
Thursday, 18th September
Rail union, RMT has called a 48-hour strike by members working for Carlisle Support Services on the Northern trains’ revenue and gateline contract.
Tuesday, 16th September
Rail union, RMT will hold a demonstration on Wednesday against the Home Office’s reckless changes to work visa rules which threaten the jobs and futures of hundreds of rail staff including on London Underground.
Tuesday, 16th September
Maritime union, RMT confirmed today that it is in dispute with cross-Solent ferry operator Wightlink after the company announced proposals which would put 160 jobs at risk.
Monday, 15th September
SEAFARERS Union RMT has attacked a new report by the Chamber of Shipping which writes UK seafarers off as ‘uncompetitive’ whilst demanding easier access to cheap foreign labour on ferry and offshore energy routes.