This is the last article you can read this month
You can read more article this month
You can read more articles this month
Sorry your limit is up for this month
Reset on:
Please help support the Morning Star by subscribing here
OUTSOURCED train cleaners are to vote on a call for strike action in a historic four-contract dispute over pay justice, RMT announced today.
The rail union said that the ballot, opening on Tuesday, is the latest phase of a long-running campaign for workers employed by the Churchill Group to service trains across south-east England.
The cleaners, who have worked on Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern, Southeastern, High Speed 1 and Eurostar services throughout the pandemic, are being denied a pay rise, occupational sick pay and access to the same travel facilities as other workers, RMT said.
This is despite Churchill paying its two directors a £3.8 million dividend last year, the union highlighted.
General secretary Mick Lynch said: “For decades, cleaners have been treated like dirt by the rail industry, but RMT is sending a clear message that those days are over.
“This pandemic has blown apart the argument that their work is ‘non-core’ and it’s time the industry started to treat them like the essential workers they are.
“Cleaners want a better deal and we’re not going to stop until they get it.”
The Churchill Group was approached for comment.
