3 February 2022
RMT Press Office:
Hundreds of rail cleaners who have kept trains running throughout the pandemic have voted for industrial action across four separate contracts in the South East in a historic ballot.
Hundreds of rail cleaners who have kept trains running throughout the pandemic have voted for industrial action across four separate contracts in the South East in a historic ballot.
The cleaners are employed by private contractor Churchill and work to keep Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, Southeastern, High Speed 1 and Eurostar trains and stations clean.
They voted in overwhelming numbers for strike action, smashing through the Tory anti-trade union law thresholds on all contracts. In two of the ballots the majorities in favour of action were 100%.
RMT’s national executive committee meets today to discuss the next steps.
RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch said,
“Churchill and cleaning employers across the industry need to pay close attention to this result.
“Our members have put their lives on the line throughout the Covid pandemic, they’ve endured low pay and a total lack of respect and they’ve watched their wages being eaten away by the growing cost of living crisis. Now they’ve sent a resounding signal that they’re not taking it any longer.
“Churchill’s cleaning company paid a £12 million dividend last year, while many of our members are on £8.91 or £9.50 an hour. Churchill can more than afford to lift pay and conditions on these contracts and our members have shown fantastic collective resolve in smashing the Tory ballot thresholds so the ball is in Churchill’s court.”
Notes to editors:
RMT has shown how Churchill’s profits and dividends could be used to lift pay for its cleaners here: https://www.rmt.org.uk/news/publications/rmt-policy-briefing-churchill-cleaners/
Want to receive updates from us? Subscribe to a mailing list
Tagged with: Churchill Group, Churchill, Cleaners, Strike, Pay, Pay Justice, Justice For Cleaners
Latest News
- Trainline accused of ripping off customers and deliberately misleading them
- Elizabeth Line and Overground staff demand public ownership and reject profit-driven model
- RMT vows mass campaign to protect ticket offices in Scotland
- RMT suspends tube strikes after significantly improved offer
- Unipart Rail’s threats fail to intimidate workers