8 May 2019
RMT Press Office:
RMT cleaners on Arriva Rail North to hold further protest outside Manchester Victoria station on Thursday 9th May
RMT cleaners working for ISS on the Arriva Rail North contract will be holding a protest on Thursday 9th May outside Manchester Victoria station between 13:00 and 15:00.
The protest is over the fact that hardship loans have not materialised that were promised for 3rd May to tide members over after private contractor ISS unilaterally changed the low paid workers payment schedule and conditions.
The cleaners have been forced into accepting 11 days’ pay owed in arrears. Currently they work 5 days paid in arrears.
Despite assurances from ISS following a national meeting, ISS have failed to process payments within the agreed 5 days. RMT members on the Arriva Rail North Contract, whose pay is being delayed from 3rd May to 9th May, were expecting to receive a hardship loan payment on 3rd May, however ISS have failed to pay in time, leaving workers desperate and exasperated.
RMT knows of at least 25 low paid workers who are suffering as a result of ISS foolish decision to press ahead, with Pay Cycle changes, rejecting all proposals from the Trade Unions.
Now the workers have been forced into debt, incurred bank charges, and have to either borrow money from friends and family or rely on food banks.
RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:
"Our cleaners on Arriva Rail North are protesting over the fact that promised loans designed to ameliorate the pay cycle change that the company has imposed have failed to materialise.
“RMT warned last month that these low paid workers would suffer with the detrimental changes to their finances.
“RMT calls on ISS to withdraw these unnecessary proposals, for an end to outsourcing and for the cleaners to be brought back in-house.”
Ends.
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