THE London School of Economics is subjecting a veteran cleaner and strike leader to union victimisation via flimsy disciplinary action, her union alleged yesterday.

Mildred Simpson, who has worked at the central London university for 21 years, is currently under formal disciplinary investigation after being accused of finishing three shifts 15 minutes early two years ago, according to United Voices of the World (UVW).

But the union argued that the Jamaican-born worker, who is facing dismissal as she approaches retirement age, is being punished for successfully leading her outsourced colleagues in a 2016 strike which eventually saw them brought in-house the following year.

The predominantly black and minority ethnic migrant workforce demanded an end to “stark disparities in wages, sick pay, paid leave, maternity pay and pensions between themselves and directly employed staff,” the union said.

Ms Simpson said: “In my view, it’s all down to bullying and victimisation – I feel that they’ve been targeting me for years.

“I’ve been in and out of meetings over the years about minor issues which have fizzled out without any result, but this constant picking on me seemed to intensify after our successful strike. 

“I suspect this repetitive singling out has to do far more with my union activities than anything else.”

UVW warned that the pressure took its toll, with Ms Simpson being signed off sick and going to counselling for a period, though she is now back at work and “refusing to stay in the shadows any longer.”

“They try to get us out if we speak up, but I’m not standing down — the union is behind me 100 per cent,” she stressed. 

The university was contacted for comment.