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Many cleaning companies behave as though they resent paying wages at all! Some impose below-inflation pay awards - a cut in wages. Others refuse annual pay increases. Most cleaners only get the national minimum wage.
This behaviour towards workers is not acceptable on the railways. RMT issues the following challenge to the employers: -
Rail industry cleaners must have dignity and respect at work:
A message from Bob Crow - RMT General Secretary
Cleaning the railways, underground and overground, is tough and often unpleasant.
Our cleaner members frequently have to deal with awkward, or even violent, members of the public and clean up vomit and excrement.
Rail industry cleaners are expected to remove body parts after suicides or accidents. Without cleaners, the railway system would quickly disappear under a torrent of rubbish. Yet cleaners are expected to live on extremely low rates of pay and without even the basic employment conditions which are common throughout the railway industry.
RMT's Cleaners' Charter sets out our demands and shows why every cleaner should join RMT. We only want fair pay and decent conditions for all railway industry cleaners.
We campaign for 'dignity not poverty'. We want a living wage for an entry level cleaner, increasing to at least £10 per hour. Employers have no excuse for not treating railway cleaners with respect.
We want a stop to cleaners being bought and sold to the lowest bidder. When cleaners are directly employed by rail companies, wages are higher and employment conditions better.
RMT is demanding that Network Rail and all the train operating and infrastructure companies end contracting out and bring cleaning back in-house. This means that cleaners will be directly employed by the same companies as the rest of their railway colleagues.
Before rail privatisation, there was no division between cleaners and all other railway staff. Many of today's station staff, drivers and conductors entered the industry as cleaners.
RMT has always had people in leading positions who are, or were, cleaners. We want a proper promotional structure for cleaners and the same opportunities as other staff to make progress through the grades in our industry.
When we unite we win improved rates of pay. In Swansea, RMT cleaners in ISS on the First Great Western contract forced management to improve wages after they voted for strike action.
If any employer refuses to discuss these issues, RMT is prepared to force them back to talks by exposing through the media, to the passengers and to their shareholders in other areas.
If cleaners vote to take industrial action we will ensure that RMT drivers, station staff, booking office and infrastructure staff offer their full support and take appropriate health and safety steps to protect themselves and the travelling public.
We are determined to work as hard as possible so RMT cleaners get a better deal. Join us now to end low pay and exploitation.
Our numbers are growing and we have a network of trained and experienced cleaners' representatives. To get what cleaners deserve it is essential that every cleaner joins RMT. Check if your workmate is in the union a form to join is included with this Charter.
Bob Crow (General Secretary, RMT)
Each time cleaning services are outsourced, cleaning firms bid low to win the contract. Cleaners are in effect bought and sold to the lowest bidder. Wages are squeezed and staffing numbers reduced. The cleaning contractors and the railway companies blame each other for this. Both claim that 'our hands are tied'.
RMT demands that the railway companies face up to their responsibility and put an end to exploitation.
The contracts should be taken back in-house and cleaners employed directly. Until this happens, contracts that depend on abysmal pay, conditions and shifts for cleaners must no longer be awarded.
Fair minimum standards must be enshrined within the contract-tendering process. There must be a stop to cleaners being sacked with no legal rights because a railway company has instructed a contractor to remove an individual from a contract.
Exploitation of our cleaners has made the owners and top managers of the cleaning firms rich. But this success is not shared amongst the workforce.
Entry-level cleaners must be paid at least a living wage. RMT's ultimate aim is for a £10 per hour minimum rate of pay (at today's rates) to lift cleaners out of poverty.
Ensuring dignity and respect at work also means challenging the appalling employment practices of some of the cleaning companies. For instance, some companies are saving money by deliberately keeping staffing levels so low that there is never adequate cover. This must change.
RMT represents all rail workers and wants a clear pay and grading structure for cleaners that offers a route to promotion: -
Cleaners should be notified of all railway vacancies and receive recognition by employers of the railway experience gained by cleaners.
All staff must have a decent pension to ensure dignity in old age.
Cleaners in the railway industry must receive free travel to and from work on the network within a minimum of 25 mile radius from their workplace. As a first step RMT proposes a 75 per cent refund of the cost of an annual season ticket.
An unsocial hours payment should be offered as compensation for any weekend, bank holiday or night work.
The law says that everyone must have a minimum of 20 days holiday each year. Disgracefully most cleaning contractors include the eight bank holidays in the 20 days.
Soon this will be unlawful. The cleaning firms must act now and give 28 days minimum holiday for all - moving to the industry average of 32 days per year.
Many cleaners only get statutory sick pay. Railway cleaners should have a proper sick pay scheme equal to other railway employees in Network Rail, London Underground and the train operating companies.
Most railway workers have a basic working week of 35 hours. There is no reason at all why cleaners should be forced to work longer hours. RMT wants a timetable for a rapid reduction in working hours to 35 per week, without loss of earnings.
RMT protects you at work.
As an RMT member you have a legal right to have an RMT rep present in all disciplinary and grievance hearings with managers.
Your union will always fight to protect and improve your wages and conditions. If your company transfers you to another employer you have legal protection under TUPE (the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) legislation. If your new employer tries to change your wages or your work do not agree to anything or sign anything, contact the union immediately.
Employers have a legal duty to provide facilities for employees. This means that eating places should be kept clean.
Staff should be able to prepare or buy a hot drink. Where hot food is not available, workers should be able to heat their own food and then be given enough time to eat it.
Proper lockers, showers and clean changing rooms are essential for cleaners' dignity.
Cleaners need warm, dry shelter in all locations where they work.
Cleaners need to be regularly issued with adequate uniform, equipment and protective equipment. Legally, employers cannot charge staff for the provision of personal protective equipment, clothing etc.
RMT health and safety reps already do a valuable job representing cleaners. Health & Safety reps at each work location, will be helping to check and improve the workplace and take up the problems with managers where needed. RMT health and safety reps should also be consulted by managers before any decisions are taken that may have an effect on health and safety.
Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. If you are being discriminated against on the grounds of race, gender or sexual orientation, or favouritism is happening in your company, RMT is here to help.
November 2006
