A bunch of cleaners at a prestigious Catholic women college in South London have slammed their employer over their claims of ‘poverty wages’ and ‘institutional racism’.
The cleaners are occurring strike over sick pay, well being and security considerations, and alleged ‘wage theft’.
The cleaners at La Retraite Roman Catholic Ladies’ Faculty in Clapham are making ready to strike for ’40 days and 40 nights’ ranging from March 16.
The dispute is linked to the cleaners’ roles being outsourced by the varsity to cleansing firm Ecocleen which leaves them with out the identical working phrases as direct workers of the varsity.
Beneath the employment of Ecocleen, the cleaners solely get statutory sick pay of about £95 per week, whereas different workers on the college get full sick pay.
Roberto, one of many cleaners at La Retraite, stated: “After we get in poor health – both with COVID-19 or one thing else – we merely can’t afford to take sick depart.
“If we do, we’ll lose our wages, and as we already reside on the breadline each penny we lose dangers leaving us unable to purchase meals or pay for lease.”
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The cleaners have complained about well being and security assessments on the college and refused to work for 4 weeks till a danger evaluation was taken out.
They declare Ecocleen saved their wages for that month, in what has been described as ‘wage theft’.
The union representing the cleaners, United Voices of the World (UVW) stated that some cleaners had been compelled to take out loans and survive on meals banks because of this.
Magalay Quesda, a migrant from Cuba who works on the college along with her husband who additionally plans to strike, stated: “It was by no means our intention to go on strike, however I imagine that our calls for are truthful and that anybody with slightly empathy can perceive the place we’re coming from.
“They’ve left us no alternative. They gained’t take heed to us, they gained’t discuss to us, and so they gained’t deal with us pretty so what different alternative do we’ve than to strike if we wish to be heard?”
Magalay Quesda along with her husband
(Picture: Magalay Quesda)
Petros Elia, UVW organiser stated: “As all of the cleaners are BAME and/or migrant staff, while the vast majority of La Retraite workers are White, this double customary in pay and phrases and circumstances, which has no justification apart from price, breaches the Equality Act and La Retraite’s Public Sector Equality Obligation.
“It’s institutional racism in our view. So in addition to supporting our members to strike for 40 days and 40 nights and as lengthy it takes past that to make sure they’re handled as justly and as equals, we may also be bringing authorized proceedings.”
A spokesperson for Ecocleen stated: “We’re absolutely dedicated to safeguarding the well being and security of all of our staff throughout each one among our websites in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because the begin of the pandemic, we’ve undertaken the mandatory COVID-19 danger evaluation in step with the UK Authorities pointers all through the enterprise, together with at La Retraite.
“We are able to additionally verify that, for the reason that begin of the pandemic, Ecocleen has supplied PPE tools to all of our cleaners throughout all of our websites, to make sure the protected working practices of all of our valued workers.”
MyLondon has approached La Retraite Roman Catholic Ladies’ Faculty for remark.
