Cleaners at Southwark Council protested outside council headquarters last night over poor pay and working conditions.
In the lead-up to the new Green-Lib Dem coalition’s first council assembly, cleaners who were part of the IWGB union called on the council to stop outsourcing their jobs to subcontractor OCS.
Compared to Southwark Council’s in-house workers, they say cleaners are not paid more for working at night and earn £2.20 less per hour than their counterparts. They get 20 days annual leave, compared to at least 28 days for in-house workers, and their employer pension contributions are less than one-fifth what they would be if they were hired directly by the council.
“Why don’t we get the same rights as everyone else?”, Sandra Alvarez asked.
Sandra, who has been working as an outsourced cleaner at the council for 11 years, said: “We work hard for the council and pay our taxes to the council but for whatever reason – because we are immigrants or because we are cleaners – we are treated poorly.
“I’m 58 years old and have been working for the council for around 11 years. I could have had a solid pension by now if I was employed directly by Southwark. Instead, because of the council’s outsourcing, I am going to retire with very little to support myself on. When I think about this I just feel complete frustration.”
Henry Chango Lopez, IWGB General Secretary, said: “It’s time for Southwark Council to clean up its employment practices. Why should cleaners be any less deserving of sick pay or a decent pension than receptionists, librarians or housing officers?”
He added: “We are pleased to have support for our campaign from several green councillors already. We now ask everyone who lives, works and studies in Southwark to call on our council to start treating its cleaners fairly!”
The cleaners’ petition was accepted by Green councillors Sam Foster and Pascale Mitchell outside their headquarters on Tooley Street.
Cllr Foster (second from left) and Cllr Mitchell (third from left) with the protestors (credit: Ellie Butcher / IWGB Union)
“I was proud to meet with the cleaners and security guards, who are fundamental to the running of the council,” Cllr Foster, Executive Member for Finance, said.
“They deserve pay, terms and conditions that reflect how critical their work is. Our ambition is to bring these services in-house, but we must carefully assess the cost before making a firm plan, as we face down a huge £102m funding gap.
“I will also be discussing the matter of union recognition for IWGB with OCS, in line with the workers’ requests, as we look at the future of the external cleaning contract.”