STUDENTS joined striking workers on picket lines at a top university yesterday after a sitin protest was forcibly ended.

Cleaners at the London School of Economics (LSE) started two days of strike action on Wednesday, calling for parity with directly employed staff on sick pay, pensions and annual leave.

Site services staff working for contractor Noonan receive only statutory sick pay when they are unwell.

The walkout, organised by the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, has won support from shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Green Party coleader Jonathan Bartley.

Students staged an occupation in solidarity with the cleaners from Wednesday night, but were evicted after security guards sawed through locked doors.

One protester told the Star that the group had already been denied access to toilets.

On all-singing, all-dancing picket lines outside the LSE yesterday, cleaner Kinkela told the Star: “We’re asking them to come to the negotiating table. They have the money, but when it comes to cleaners, they don’t want to hear anyone.

“Maybe [the strike] will bring them to their senses.”

LSE Labour Club committee member Marcus Barnett said: “It’s very heartening to see so many concerned students come out and defend exploited trade unionists.

“In fact, the entire student body should hurl into the fire and break the attempts of anyone who dares trample underfoot our sacred workers’ rights.”

National Union of Students executive member James Elliott, who also joined the demo, said: “The struggle of the LSE cleaners is at one with the struggle of students against the privatised education system.”

An LSE spokeswoman said: “The decision by UVW to initiate industrial action is disappointing, especially considering cleaners and recognised trade union representatives [Unison] are still engaged in constructive negotiations.”