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‘Heroic’ train cleaners on Avanti West Coast trains to begin strike action in pursuit of fair pay

OUTSOURCED “heroic” train cleaners working to protect passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic are set to begin strike action on Thursday in pursuit of fair pay.

The Avanti West Coast trains staff, who are employed by French-based Atalian Servest Limited, receive just £9.68 an hour and have no sick pay, their union RMT said. 

The cleaners’ employers have refused to raise pay above the national real living wage rate of £9.90, offering only an extra 2p per hour to workers outside London, the transport union charged.

According to RMT research, the firm paid a £10.8 million dividend to its French parent company last year.

General secretary Mick Lynch slammed the treatment of staff as an “utter disgrace.”

He said: “While the dividends keep flowing overseas, cleaners are expected to live in fear of destitution if they get sick.” 

“Atalian Servest need to make these heroes a better offer and Avanti need to take responsibility because they are complicit in this gross exploitation.”

An Avanti spokesperson said the company was “disappointed” by the strike action and would work to minimise disruption to customers. 

Atalian was also contacted for comment. 

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