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RAIL union RMT exposed the “stinking” conditions faced by Britain’s appallingly low-paid Tube cleaners yesterday.
The union posted a video on YouTube showing disgraceful conditions at Finsbury Park station and published pictures of the “nightmare situation” faced by ISS cleaners at Clapham and Bards Green.
ISS bosses have threatened to lock staff out of stations if they refuse to sign in using the controversial new fingerprint system, which cleaners have labelled an attack on their civil liberties.
But those who get through the door to start their shift at Clapham face filthy floors and bags overflowing with smelly rubbish.
RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said the evidence shows working conditions for Tube cleaners “are a disgrace to this city.”
He added they should “shame Boris Johnson, who is allowing these Dickensian practices to exist on transport services under his direct control.”
An ISS spokeswoman said: “At ISS we take the health and safety of all our employees extremely seriously and the condition of the store room in the images provided by the RMT is unacceptable.
“A separate investigation is already being conducted to audit all sites.”
RMT believe Clapham is just one station where workers are forced to clock in using the fingerprint system in “filthy, rat-infested cupboards.”
The union said forcing the poorly paid cleaners to use a clocking-in system added insult to injury as it was degrading and had overtones of a police state.
Biometric scanners have so far been installed by ISS on the Piccadilly, Northern and Victoria lines.
The Morning Star revealed last month how 14 workers were locked out by bosses for over 10 days after refusing to use the machines.
Mr Cash added: “RMT members across ISS have been brave enough to stand up and fight this greedy, anti-union company on London Underground against the backdrop of a barrage of intimidation and bullying.
“The travelling public and the entire trade union movement should be standing alongside these brave workers, doing some of the dirtiest jobs on the London transport network, in their battle for workplace justice.”
