ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Cleaners at the Ministry of Justice and Kensington and Chelsea council in London are to take strike action this week in their fight for the London living wage and decent sick pay.

The walk-out across five different sites for three days is said to be the first coordinated strike by the city's low-paid army of largely migrant cleaners, as reported in The Guardian newspaper. The workers claim public institutions are refusing to take responsibility for low wages paid to outsourced cleaning staff.

They are asking for the £10.20 (€11.40) an hour London living wage, which is based on the cost of living in English capital. They are also hoping to raise the issue of sick pay, which they do not receive for the first three days of absence and which thereafter is statutory sick pay of £18 (€20.13) a day.

Cleaners from eight exclusive private hospitals and medical centres are set to join further coordinated action at the end of the month. The HCA UK cleaners are also paid below the London living wage but have more specific complaints.

The strike has been organised by the United Voices of the World union.