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

Friday, 19th December
RMT has condemned proposals by Amey Rail to cut 59 jobs on the Core Valley Lines (CVL) transformation project, warning that the plans could lead to industrial action.
Wednesday, 17th December
Cleaning staff on the Docklands Light Railway will take strike action on New Year's Eve after the employer made no contact with the union following the previous strike.
Wednesday, 17th December
RMT has called on the government to immediately intervene to protect the lives of remand prisoners currently on hunger strike.
Wednesday, 10th December
RMT has slammed today’s decision by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) to back a three-year funding deal that will leave BTP facing frontline cuts and creating a less safe railway.
Monday, 8th December
The British Transport Police Authority (BTPA) has been urged to agree a proper funding settlement for the BTP, by rail unions and the TUC in a joint letter.