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Immigrant cleaners working for the Department for Education (DfE) are worried that black workers are not given the same rights as their predominantly white colleagues and are threatening to go on strike over pay.
Union members claim they have been denied the London living wage of £13.15 an hour, as well as annual leave and sick pay that white-collar workers in the department receive.
The union representing the staff accused the government of failing to “treat staff with dignity”.
London's Living Wage is set above the national minimum wage rate (currently £11.44 for workers over 21) to take into account the rising cost of living in the capital.
Outsourced workers responsible for cleaning offices at the ministry's Sanctuary Building headquarters said they are suffering financially and preparing to strike this summer.
Mirgo Jama, who has worked as a cleaner for the DfE for 31 years, said he plans to vote in favor of the strike. independent person Poor working conditions, including low wages, mean they are struggling to make ends meet amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“Everything has gone up, including rent and utilities, but our wages haven't changed,” said the mother of four. “At the same time, our workload has increased, and many people have quit because they can't handle this management.
“It's hard to go to work every day because you have to face these people and situations. I've wanted to quit this job for a while, but I've been working here for a long time and I hope things will get better. I hope.”
Gloria Mancera, who has worked as a cleaner for the DfE for 18 years and is also planning to strike, said: “In my 18 years as a cleaner at the DfE, I have never experienced such bad treatment. “We have no sick pay, too much work, and no proper vacation compensation. We are treated with disdain, we are fed up and stressed, but we are united in determination. We are waiting for our ballots to arrive. I can’t do it.”
A spokesperson for the Union of Voices of the World (UVW) trade union said: “The outsourcing regime allows companies to offer poor conditions to the outsourced cleaning workforce, but many It happens to be made up of workers from ethnic minority and immigrant backgrounds because of the issue.” Historical structural racism.
“Although this policy itself was not intended to target workers based on their ethnicity, it is nonetheless disproportionately harmful to Black, Brown, and immigrant workers and represents indirect racial discrimination.” It may be argued that it is a form of
“DfE workers have the same rights as other workers, are treated with the same dignity and are provided with the same conditions in buildings and workplaces as other workers, regardless of whether they are contracted out to private contractors or not. It will be done.”
ISS UK Limited, the contractor that outsources the cleaners to the Government Property Office, has refused to comply with civil servants' demands for cleaners, including a living wage, equivalent sick pay and annual leave, despite “numerous attempts” The union said it refused to negotiate over the issue. , and appropriate staffing levels.
UVW member states went on strike in the summer of 2023 over this issue, but it has not yet been resolved.
The UVW union said staff were also suffering a “significant increase” in workload due to recent job cuts, and the government was being called on to address this.
UVW has represented thousands of low-wage migrant workers since its founding in 2014. The union says most outsourced black, brown and immigrant cleaners are subjected to poorer working conditions than the people they work with.
The union added: “DfE cleaners deserve to feel valued and they are entitled to dignity, respect and, above all, equality with civil servants who wear suits.” added. It is unconscionable that in 2024, government departments are run by a two-tier workforce where primarily black, brown, and immigrant janitors are treated like second-class citizens. ”
A spokesperson for ISS UK&I said: “We highly value the contributions of all ISS team members and will continue to work toward a resolution. We are disappointed that this vote is taking place.” The company declined to comment on whether it would negotiate. .
A government spokesperson said: “These staff are employed by external contractors and are not directly employed by the government.” The contract is owned by the Government Property Office, not the Department of Education.
“The Government Property Office ensures that contractors comply with current employment laws. This encourages contractors and trade unions to work together to resolve disputes.”
