St Pancras International cleaners balloted for strike action

In recent weeks RMT representatives have been in discussion with Initial Facilities over their proposals to re-organise their workforce at St. Pancras International and the devastating impact the plans would have on the workforce. The proposals would not only lead to redundancies but also a major deterioration in staff terms and conditions.

RMT’s negotiating team has raised numerous objections to management’s plans; however the company have refused to alter their proposals and are pressing ahead with the re-organisation, including the following:

•    A reduction in staff by 30% which will inevitably lead to redundancies.
•    A reduction in Grades with no protection of earnings.
•    The withdrawal of the Supervisor and Waste Operative (compactor) positions.
•    Changes to working hours.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said:

“It is absolutely shameful that cleaning staff at the prestigious St Pancras International station are facing a brutal package of cuts that would reduce staffing by a third, hammer the opportunity to progress through the grades and impose major changes to working hours. This is nothing short of an attempt by Initial to work a reduced number of staff till they drop solely in the interests of maximising profits.

“Not only are these planned cuts totally unacceptable but they have also been bulldozed though outside of agreed procedures turning the negotiating process into a farce. That is why we are now preparing to ballot the workforce for action.

“Let me make this clear, if we don’t get some progress from the company RMT will turn St Pancras International into the central battleground in the fight against cleaning companies who think they can get away with exploiting the workforce at will while they rack up fat profits. We have no intention of letting them get away with it.”

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