Video and Press Release: RMT cleaners at Eurostar strike over pay, jobs and bullying

RAIL UNION RMT today launched a global campaign in support of Eurostar cleaners who are locked in a bitter dispute with their employers - the Carlisle Group - over pay, threatened redundancies, the introduction of finger printing machines and the victimisation of a union representative.

At the end of last week the Eurostar cleaners took part in a rock-solid 48 hour strike with a noisy picket line taking their message of respect and justice out to the travelling public.

Today, RMT have linked up with international website Labour Start to launch a global email campaign targeted at Eurostar and calling on the company to intervene in the dispute and demand that their cleaning contractors pay their staff the London Living Wage, scrap the Orwellian finger printing machines and start treating the cleaners with the respect that they deserve.

The global Eurostar cleaners campaign can be reached at - http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c...

Bob Crow, RMT general secretary, said:

“Eurostar is a global brand and it makes perfect sense for us to launch a global trade union campaign in support of our members here in London fighting for justice.

“Eurostar cannot ignore the actions of their cleaning contractors, the Carlisle Group, which have forced our members into a campaign of industrial action. The cleaners voted 100% to strike which is a measure of how angry they are.

“RMT is determined to use every means at our disposal to win the fight for justice and respect for the Eurostar cleaners including a global cyber-picket to shine a spotlight on the appalling way that this group of workers is being treated.”

> RMT National News

Saturday, 15th June
RMT members within the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) will escalate their dispute over pay with a strike on Tuesday 25 June.
Friday, 14th June
Bespoke Facilities Management workers at Hitachi Rail Doncaster will take strike action later this month.
Friday, 14th June
RMT will ballot Eurostar International members over fair and equal payments for work during the Paris Olympics.
Tuesday, 11th June
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed transport giant First Group for profiteering from privatised rail and bus services across the country and recommending an increase in dividends of nearly 50 per cent.
Thursday, 6th June
RMT will launch strike action on Avanti West Coast tomorrow in response to the company's implementation of new rosters that have led to significant stress and exhaustion among employees.