CONTRACT cleaners at London’s royal parks are set to strike on July 30 over pay, conditions and the unfair sacking of a colleague, Civil Service union PCS said today.

Campaigning alongside the United Voices of the World union, PCS is demanding parity for workers employed by contractor Just Ask Estates with directly employed staff, including sick pay and a decent pension scheme.

The cleaners are also demanding the reinstatement of a colleague who was sacked after she was delayed on her return from Ghana, despite the fact that she informed bosses she had been delayed returning to Britain due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The contractor, which provides toilet-cleaning services across the capital’s 5,000 acres of royal parks, has to date refused to recognise or engage with the unions, the union said.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The treatment of staff who do an important job keeping key facilities functioning at the royal parks is a disgrace.

“Just Ask Estates needs to reinstate the staff member immediately, recognise the palpable anger of our members and get round the negotiating table to achieve a just settlement.  

“Strike action is always a last resort but we will back our members every step of the way.”