Tube cleaners versus cowboy companies

Submitted by cathy n on 23 February, 2007 - 10:09

Tube cleaning company and multinational ISS has said it will get rid of 200 cleaners on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines because TubeLines, the “Infraco” in charge of the lines, has slashed the budget for cleaning.

The RMT has organised protests outside TubeLines’ and the Mayor’s posh offices, submitted an Early Day Motion backed by RMT’s MPs and handed official letters to ISS, TubeLines and the Mayor, demanding meetings. Livingstone has guaranteed ISS’s contract until 2012 - a contract allowing only for cheap, sub-standard cleaning, as he fights to keep costs down to pour maximum resources into the 2012 Olympics.

The RMT has decided to strike to save the jobs. Only 21 cleaners accepted voluntary redundancy. The TGWU who also organises ISS cleaners had declared its intention to strike until the TUC told them this would be unlawful - only the RMT is recognised by ISS on the Underground.

While RMT cleaners’ membership has risen by 50%, the number of unionised ISS cleaners still falls short of what would be desired. RMT must now make sure that all former T&G members are included in this fight.

The strategy for the strike must include closing stations and taking trains out of service on the grounds of safety, with particular concentration on the depots, to ensure that trains are brought to a stop. This unity will be key to the effectiveness of the strike.

A victory against ISS will remind us what a union can do for its members. The challenges, successes and setbacks of organising cleaners in London have some important lessons for the union across the rail industry: determination, readiness to take action and unity across the grades is crucial if the union is to be successful.

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