ABM Cleaners

RMT press release, issued today

RMT TUBE cleaners and their supporters will demonstrate tomorrow at the Greenwich offices of cleaning contractor ISS against its victimisation of union reps following last year’s successful strike for the London living wage.

One RMT rep has already been sacked and another faces disciplinary charges in vindictive attacks on the union following its historic victory against ISS and other Tube cleaning contractors.

ISS cleaning company continues to victimise RMT reps, sacking and disciplining them on trumped-up charges.

A protest is being held outside ISS offices at Greenwich, 15 Park Vista, Greenwich, this Thursday, 8 January, at 11am. Please meet inside London Bridge outside WH Smiths at 10am.

Solidarity is strength.

LABOUR REPRESENTATION COMMITTEE www.l-r-c.org.uk

*PRESS NOTICE* *PRESS NOTICE*

The LRC supports demonstration against victimisation of tube cleaners

The Labour Representation Committee (LRC) supports the RMT Tube cleaners who will be demonstrating tomorrow (8th January 09) at the Greenwich offices of cleaning contractor ISS against its victimisation of union reps following last year’s successful strike for the London living wage.

ICS management has started the obnoxious compliance check. We all know very well that this is a vicious and calculated device to victimise cleaners for their union activities. Now more than half of the ICS staff are supplied by agencies and one need not be a genius to predict that the current exercise will effectively do our membership a great harm. Indubitably, relying on agency staff serves them perfectly well since they are the most vulnerable of all cleaners. The unwritten law: "Don't join RMT and dance to our tune" or else goodbye.

It looks like the successful campaign to defend Andy Littlechild has taught some managers nothing.

Brendan Judge, an RMT rep in CBS Outdoor, has now been suspended on trumped-up charges.

In a similar vein, ICS cleaning company is demanding to see our rep Fred Dappah's National Insurance number.

Our response must be exactly the same for these reps as it was for Andy.

I will keep you updated.

Monday November 17th, 5pm: cleaners meeting to discuss which branch they wish to be in. Meeting at the Exmouth Arms, Starcross Street, Euston. (Sorry about late notice - everywhere is booked up for Christmas dos later than this but before the 'spheres of influence' meeting.)

Friday December 12th, 6.30pm til late: Regional Council Christmas party at the Exmouth Arms. Free buffet and limited bar.

By Glenroy Watson, Finsbury Park branch Chairperson

Welcome to the 2008 Annual Report of one of the biggest and most active branches on London Underground, if not the whole RMT union.

This resolution, submitted by Finsbury Park branch, was passed at the October 2008 meeting of the Regional Council

This branch notes the concerns expressed by our station members about the effects of the cutback on station cleaners on cleaners' workload, levels of cleanliness and attendant health and safety issues.

We call on the regional council to organise a meeting of station reps and supervisors to discuss this issue.

Demonstrate in solidarity with Tube cleaners at Mayor's Question Time on Wednesday 15 October, City Hall, 10-11am

Meet outside City Hall (by the river between London Bridge and Tower Bridge).

The Mayor is the chair of Transport for London. At Mayor's Questions in July, he smugly promised that Metronet cleaners would receive a living wage by August.

Metronet contractors Initial and ICS are still either not paying the London Living Wage, or only paying it in part.

The protest will also highlight the unjust use of immigration law during the dispute.

by Becky Crocker, Cleaners’ Co-ordinator, RMT Camden 3 branch

When cleaners took strike action, the cleaning companies victimised key activists.

Stonebridge Park RMT rep, Godday, organised a 100% solid strike at his depot. The day after, he was suspended without pay, removing this inspiring and effective rep from his workplace. Godday has been out of work since early July.