Railway cleaners have launched their first national strike in disputes over issues including pay.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) employed by a number of private contractors cleaning trains for several rail operators are involved in the industrial action on Saturday.
Across the railway network, more than 1,000 contracted-out cleaners went on strike in the first national action of its kind.
Cleaners on the Docklands Light Railway in London also went on strike in a separate row over pay, rosters and conditions.
RMT tweeted its support. RMT members employed by a number of private contractors cleaning trains for several rail operators are involved in the industrial action on Saturday
The railway cleaners are campaigning for a wage of £15 an hour, sick pay, better holidays and pensions.
The union said rail companies that use contracted-out cleaning providers such as Avanti West Coast, GWR, LNER and TransPennine Express were affected by the industrial action.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘This is the first time cleaners have been taken out on strike across the rail network.
‘It is a testament to our members’ fearlessness and determination to see justice done on pay and working conditions.
‘These multimillion-pound companies who super exploit workers who were rightly hailed as heroes during the pandemic should be removed from operating in Britain if they do not come to a negotiated settlement on our members’ modest demands.’
Mick Lynch, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, stands at a picket line outside Euston station (stock image)
Mr Lynch added: ‘It is a national disgrace that many languish on the minimum wage, with no company sick or holiday pay, while doing such an important job of keeping our stations and trains clean.
‘These cleaners’ strikes are just the beginning of our industrial campaign for the most exploited workers on our railways.’
RMT tweeted on Saturday: ‘RMT Senior Assistant General Secretary Eddie Dempsey joins the @RMTunion Cleaners picket line outside Kings Cross station this morning #JusticeForCleaners #FightForFifteen’.
They also posted photographs of picket lines in King’s Cross, London and Edinburgh.
Planned strikes earlier this month were suspended but there has been no breakthrough in the dispute.
RMT tweeted several messages of support on Saturday morning
Sources told the Daily Mail this week that Mr Lynch has softened his stance and has been the most open to a deal they have ever found him in recent meetings.
Negotiators are understood to be looking at using language ‘creatively’, particularly around reforming the industry, so both sides can better sell a deal.
A source said: ‘Mick has been the most deal-minded he’s been. He needs a way out of the dispute.
‘Rather than things just being dismissed, he’s been putting forward practical solutions. There’s been talk of using language creatively to get a deal over the line.
‘We’re nearly there, although next week’s strikes are looking baked in. A deal by the end of January is not impossible.’
The rail strikes have cost at least £1.5bn for pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels in the UK in December alone, industry bodies have warned.
They noted that, running alongside the cost of living crisis, the strikes will lead to a loss of many jobs and businesses.
Railway cleaners stage a protest outside the Transport Department, London, calling on the Government to end the ‘scandal’ of poverty pay (stock image)
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality, said the financial impact of train strikes on the sector was more severe than anticipated, causing a ‘perfect storm’ for businesses fighting against surging energy bills and inflation.
She said that as a result, ‘undoubtedly we will see more business failures’ in the next three months.
Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: ‘Industrial action and cost inflation pressures have decimated trade across the night-time economy, with many hugely concerned that New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will be further impacted by train strikes.’
Nicholls said the recent transport strikes sparked a flurry of cancellations of planned Christmas parties and dinners during the week of December 12.
UKHospitality had predicted a £1.5bn hit from the strikes across December and January but it noted that recent industrial action led to losses of that size in the past month alone.
Nicholls told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘The hit in December was more significant than we were anticipating in terms of a slowdown in consumer footfall on the high street during that whole week.’
The NTIA has predicted the decline in trade to its members will total as much as £2bn.
Its boss said several businesses lost up to 50 per cent of revenues during the key Christmas period, which they were counting on for early 2023.
‘The government’s postponed announcement on the energy relief extension has left many facing further uncertainty and once again the inability to plan,’ Mr Kill said. ‘We will without doubt now see a huge swathe of businesses and jobs lost in January due to the government’s inaction.’
Railway cleaners stage a protest outside the Transport Department, London (stock image)
Union leaders have this week spoken out against claims by the Government that they are running out of funding to continue the strikes.
Ministers are reported to believe that the major unions that have taken part in industrial action will be made to stand down over demands for increased pay for members because they are spending millions of pounds on strike pay and hardship funds.
The Public and Communication Services (PCS) union, which represents striking Border Force officials, argued that its strike fund was at the strongest that it has been for years.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: ‘The Tories are clutching at straws. First they say our Border Force strikes aren’t working because there are no queues, when everyone knows there are no queues because the military aren’t allowed to stop anyone.
‘Now they tell us we’re running out of money when the opposite is true: our strike fund is the highest it’s been for years and we’re raising millions of pounds to sustain strike action for six months or more.
‘Instead of floundering about, they should talk to us and resolve this dispute.’
