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Striking cleaners on London Overground to demonstrate against low pay tomorrow

Striking RMT members working as cleaners for the London Overground on the Arriva Rail Contract, and their supporters, will be holding a demonstration tomorrow outside Arriva Rail London’s Head Office.

The demonstration will take place outside Overground House 125 Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 6HY at 10am on Friday 5th April 2019.

The action will be taking place during a 48 hour strike which starts this evening over pay and conditions. The cleaners, who formerly worked for Carillion before its collapse, have been transferred to outsourcing company Vinci.

The union has instructed members:

  • Not to sign on for any shifts commencing between 21:00 hours on Thursday 4th April 2019 and 20:59 hours on Saturday 6th April 2019.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said:

“Rail companies who are making a fortune out of Britain’s privatised railways think nothing of treating their cleaning staff like dirt. It is disgusting and the travelling public will know full well just what an essential service the cleaning team plays on London Overground.

“These hardworking staff should be adequately rewarded for all their labour instead of being paid pittance. This is a part of the overall RMT fight for basic workplace justice for staff doing the dirty jobs on the rail network.

“I congratulate our members for their magnificent show of solidarity in the earlier phase of action and their determination to get a fair reward for the work that they are carrying out. They should not be shunted around from one failing company to another in the interests of corporate profit.

“RMT remains available for genuine and meaningful talks in order to resolve the current dispute.“

> RMT National News

Wednesday, 4th February
Outsourced cleaners on the Docklands Light Railway will strike alongside a protest at Transport for London’s Board meeting today, intensifying pressure on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to honour his pledge to bring cleaners back in-house.
Saturday, 31st January
RMT welcomed London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services being brought under Great British Railways on Sunday but insisted outsourced workers must not be left behind.
Friday, 30th January
Transport union RMT, will demand safe staffing and an end to lone working on the railways at an Action Against Assaults event at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 11 February.
Tuesday, 27th January
Outsourced cleaners will strike alongside a protest at TfL’s Board meeting on 4 February, increasing pressure on Mayor Sadiq Khan over outsourcing and democratic control of the capital's transport system.
Friday, 23rd January
RMT members working on the Windrush line will take strike action in February after their employer refused to make a decent pay offer.