11 April 2025
RMT Press Office:
Cleaners working for outsourcing firm Churchill on the Merseyrail contract voted overwhelmingly today to accept a new pay offer, bringing a successful end to their dispute.
The new agreement, which includes a six per cent pay rise backdated to April 2023, a further five per cent from April 2024, improved sick pay, and an uplift to a £15 minimum hourly rate from April 2025, marks a significant victory for the low-paid cleaning workforce.
This deal was only made possible by the determination and solidarity of RMT members who threatened 48-hour strike action.
But RMT warned that while this is a step forward, the root problem of outsourcing railway staff remained.
RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the victory was down to the guts and determination of members who stood strong throughout the dispute.
“They have won better pay, better conditions, and the respect they deserve.
“But this win should not have taken strike action to settle as cleaners working on Merseyrail should not be outsourced in the first place.
“Merseyrail needs to be brought back into full public ownership, and that means bringing cleaning staff back in-house where they belong.
“As long as profiteering contractors like Churchill are involved, workers will always be fighting uphill.
“Public transport should be run in the public interest – not to line the pockets of private firms,” he said.
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