JOHN McDONNELL has urged Business Secretary Greg Clark to “personally intervene” to help his department’s agency workers, who have been forced to use foodbanks and take strike action against poverty pay.

The shadow chancellor called on Mr Clark to step in as workers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) begin four days of strike action tomorrow.

The cleaners and caterers, who are members of the PCS union, are employed by subcontracting giants ISS and Aramark.

They claim that they are frustrated with persistent issues around pay, such as incorrect payments and wages regularly not being paid on time.

But, despite extensive negotiations with the union, both agencies have refused to give their workers the London living wage (LLW).

This is despite the fact that workers have complained to management of resorting to foodbanks to supplement their pay.

As a result, the PCS have had to launch a foodbank to cater for the needs of their members.

Mr McDonnell added: “It’s obvious that outsourcing has failed and these jobs need bringing back in-house.

“It is the deepest irony that the department responsible for employment cannot secure decent employment standards for the staff that serve it.”

The strike is expected to last until Friday, and will coincide with strike action by PCS members employed by Interserve at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), who are also walking out this week over poor pay and conditions.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This week our members will tell these unscrupulous contractors enough is enough.

“The multi-day strikes being launched are just the beginning of an escalation in industrial action.

“These companies need to listen to the clear and reasonable demands of our members.”