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, 1st August
RMT members working on Orkney’s lifeline ferry services have voted in favour of industrial action short of strike, following the rejection of a pay offer from their employer.
Saturday, 26th July
Rail union, RMT demanded urgent intervention from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) today, following a serious escalation in violent and anti-social behaviour across Southern and Gatwick Express services.
Thursday, 24th July
Transport union, RMT has warned the Labour government that any attempt to drastically raise the state pension age beyond 68 would be met with strong resistance, including coordinated protests and direct action from across the trade union movement.
Thursday, 24th July
RMT has today backed the call from the London Assembly Transport Committee for Transport for London (TfL) to publish the review which led to the removal of blue light status from Emergency Response Unit (ERU) vehicles, and is calling for the reinstatement of this vital emergency capability.
Friday, 18th July
London to Essex train company c2c will come into public hands on Sunday but outsourced cleaners, will remain with a private contractor, RMT has said.