LOW-PAID migrant workers have won a 25 per cent pay increase less than a week after returning a ballot for strike action.

Mercedes Benz workers in Colindale, London, had overwhelmingly voted for strike action alongside 150 other comrades across Greater London in the United Voice of the World (UVW) union.

Workers across a number of organisations — ranging from private schools and the London School of Economics to Amazon and the Department for Education — voted for strike action to achieve equal terms and conditions with in-sourced colleagues and win at least the London Living Wage.

The outsourced cleaning company which employs the cleaners at Mercedes — SBFM Ltd — had rebuffed workers’ earlier calls for a living wage.

But the recent ballot for strike action appears to have sparked a change of heart after discussions with Mercedes.

UVW general secretary Petros Elia was clear that the win “could not and would not” have been achieved without a strike ballot, saying: “All workers out there should take inspiration from this win.

“We have balloted nine groups of workers for strike action this month and we hope the other eight employers now follow suit and give our members what they need and deserve — proper pay and conditions wherever they work and whatever their job, and dignity and respect.”

Maritza Bolivar, a UVW member and cleaner at Mercedes Benz said: “Receiving that letter with the news of the pay increase was truly wonderful!

“This is a huge achievement and without the support of the union it would not have been possible.

“To my colleagues in the other workplaces; continue the fight, do not give up, if we are able to achieve this win you can too.

“This fight is for everyone, and the achievements are for everyone.”