Peter Lazenby
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RAIL cleaners’ anger over wage exploitation by a profiteering private employer boiled over today as hundreds walked out on strike and mounted pickets at stations across London and south-east England.
Striking cleaners also rallied outside Parliament where leading left Labour MP Richard Burgon attacked the scandal of poverty wages for key workers in the fifth-richest country in the world.
The cleaners are members of transport union RMT and work for private operator Churchill.
They have been campaigning for better pay since last year.
The union says that the cleaners are paid the minimum wage of £8.91 an hour, and in some cases the Living Wage of £9.50 — while being expected to survive in some of the most expensive parts of Britain.
RMT says that they need a rise of up to £1,395 a year just to keep up with December’s RPI inflation rate of 7.5 per cent.
The cleaners voted overwhelmingly for strike action.
The London rally took place in Old Palace Yard at Westminster where Mr Burgon and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were among the speakers.
Mr Burgon told the Morning Star: “I was proud to join the striking cleaners from RMT for their rally.
“The Churchill Group has picked on the wrong workers and the wrong union.
“They are demanding the wage they deserve — £15 an hour.
“It is a scandal to recognise that in the fifth-richest country in the world, people who as key workers have been keeping our trains clean and safe are being paid a wage they cannot live on.
“United, these workers can win.”
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The support from Churchill cleaners for the action this morning is extraordinary and shows that these vital members of the rail team are prepared to stand up and fight for workplace justice.
“Support from their colleagues on the picket lines has given the action a massive boost.
“Pickets are out in force across London and south-east England and it’s now down to Churchill and its host companies to take note and offer these key workers a fair deal. We remain available for talks.”
Churchill was invited to comment.
