RAIL cleaners fighting for fair pay on Britain’s state-owned East Coast railway took strike action yesterday against the “pure greed” of a private contractor.

Agency staff employed by ISS have been denied any pay rise since 2011. Rail union RMT said the workers had stood “rock solid” at stations along the length route, and that a further strike would take place next week.

The union has been locked in another bitter dispute with the firm over a new fingerprint-based clocking on system for cleaners on the London Tube. 

Reps believe the shift-booking system is an affront to civil liberties.

RMT acting general secretary Mick Cash said: “It is outrageous that ISS is refusing to take the matter of fair pay increases and improvements to terms and conditions seriously.

“To have had no pay rise since 2011 is a disgrace while this wealthy global company makes huge profits on the back of pure exploitation of the workforce.

“It appears that its arrogance knows no bounds. Its attitude has been to cancel meetings that are in place to address these issues at a moment’s notice and expect the workers and their union to meekly accept this.

“The ball is now in ISS’s court.”

RMT has also been campaigning for fair treatment for tube cooks after another private contractor, Sodexo, fired worker Petrit Mihaj for his trade union activities. 

Reps have organised a demonstration outside Sodexo’s London HQ at 9am on Monday 11.