Government cleaners vote to strike over pay and working conditions

15 October 2024, 16:49

Border Force officer holds a placard at a picket line outside Heathrow Airport, during strikes over changes to their working conditions, in London, on April 29, 2024.
Border Force officer holds a placard at a picket line outside Heathrow Airport, during strikes over changes to their working conditions, in London, on April 29, 2024. Picture: Getty

By Henry Moore

Cleaners and porters in several Government departments have voted to strike in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) will walk out for 14 days from October 28.

The workers, employed by ISS and G4S, voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "This escalation reflects the anger of our G4S and ISS members. They are particularly incensed by the insulting pay offers and the unacceptable fact that many receive no company sick pay.

"Ministers must settle these disputes and work towards the insourcing of these contracts to end this perpetual race to the bottom on pay and conditions.

"Our members deliver vital services that keep the civil service functioning and deserve to be treated as civil servants, not second class citizens in their own workplaces."

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds leaves the Department for Business and Trade at Admiralty House, in Westminster.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds leaves the Department for Business and Trade at Admiralty House, in Westminster. Picture: Alamy

The action will affect the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and the Cabinet Office, all based in London.

This comes after cleaning staff at the Department of Education won a pay rise after a dispute over working conditions that rumbled on for over a year.

Speaking earlier this month, Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: “These brave workers have closed the gap between themselves and the civil servants they serve food to and clean up after by standing up for themselves.

“The only way we will end the structural inequality created by outsourcing is through strike action.

“Wealthy multinationals like ISS make billions off the backs of workers like our members and it takes strikes to get them to get them to cough up.

“Every time DfE workers took strike action their numbers grew and we are organising outsourced workers across government offices now.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Breaking News

Charity watchdog looking into ‘concerns’ over Prince Harry’s Sentebale charity amid racism row

Breaking
Breaking News

M5 closed in both directions after body found on motorway, sparking police investigation

Lucy

Expert panel claims 'no criminal offences committed' in Lucy Letby case after bombshell new report into baby deaths

The Sentinelese are a pre-Neolithic tribe that rejects contact with the modern world

US tourist arrested for sailing to remote island and leaving a can of Coke for the world's most isolated tribe to try

Full runners and riders confirmed for Saturday's Grand National

Grand National 2025 runners and riders confirmed as full 34-horse line-up revealed

Exclusive
Sophie Bannister and April-Levi Whalley have posted celebratory social media posts after dodging jail for drug smuggling

'Can't wait to enjoy our summer': Drug smuggling best friends celebrate after avoiding jail time

The Trump administration has been ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

'No one is safe, not even the penguins': Trump administration ridiculed after imposing tariffs on uninhabited islands

Uriah Rennie is 'learning to walk again'.

Premier League's first black referee, Uriah Rennie, 'learning to walk again' after he was left paralysed

Two people died in the explosion in Newcastle

Man, 33, admits manslaughter and drugs charge after devastating house explosion in Newcastle left two dead

j

Glamorous drug smuggling friends found guilty of bringing cannabis to UK - after New York 'shopping trip'

Greenpeace activists scaled a building outside the Foreign Office

Greenpeace activists scale Foreign Office building over signing of ocean treaty

Spain celebrates winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 in Australia

UK poised to host 2035 Women’s World Cup

Lucy Letby

Lawyer for killer nurse Lucy Letby to hand over 'fresh' evidence he hopes will clear her name

World leaders react to US tariffs

'This is not the act of a friend': World leaders react to Trump's 'unwarranted' tariffs

The millionaire businesswoman has called for an urgent safety review by TfL after the emergency Help Point failed in a central London station.

Millionaire businesswoman abandoned on Tube platform by staff after 'traumatising' assault

British couple

British couple found dead in New Zealand named - as police probe possible murder-suicide