ISS cleaners on the East Coast  mainline on strike, London, 16.9.13, photo Chris Newby

ISS cleaners on the East Coast mainline on strike, London, 16.9.13, photo Chris Newby   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Richie Veitch, RMT Edinburgh branch

Low paid workers employed by ISS on their lucrative East Coast Mainline contract entered into their latest round of strike action starting on Friday 8 August 2014 for 24 hours, coupled to a 48-hour strike being planned later in the month.

For over two years now members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) have been locked in a head on battle with rogue employer ISS in a fight for a living wage to bring them out of the poverty line. These workers are paid the national minimum wage by ISS yet the company will be creaming profits off the back of a poorly paid workforce who they treat with contempt and disdain.

Morale amongst the members is good, despite having had no pay rise since 2011. However it appears that the company’s arrogance shows no bounds as their attitude has been to cancel meetings that are in place to address the issue at a moments notice and expecting the workers and the union to accept this.

Picket lines will be in force at Kings Cross, Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley on the strike days. Come along and stand shoulder to shoulder with the ISS workers in their fight to bring themselves out of poverty.

The next round of industrial action is planned for 48 hours commencing Friday 15 August.


Leeds

ISS cleaners working for East Coast Mainline strike for decent pay in Leeds, photo by Leeds SP

ISS cleaners working for East Coast Mainline strike for decent pay in Leeds, photo by Leeds SP   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Cleaners working for ISS on the East Coast mainline took strike action in Leeds on 8 August, alongside workers at Newcastle, Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley stations in their fight for a living wage.

The RMT members have been involved in a long running dispute with the cleaning contractor to award them the hourly living wage rate set by academics at Loughborough University.

Previous strikes had secured the London living wage rate for ISS contracted cleaners at Kings Cross, but the union is fighting to get the living wage paid at other depots across the country. A similar position had recently been won for cleaners on the West Coast mainline.

The mood on the picket line was buoyant with members taking strike for the first time. The vast majority of strikers were expected to attend the picket line, alongside other supportive members of the Leeds City RMT branch.

The presence of a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition banner, which a donation from the RMT branch towards the recent TUSC local election campaign helped fund, was welcomed on the picket line.

Further action is due to take place from Friday 15 August, and pickets were discussing having their own strike banner to hammer home their message that they, like all workers, deserve a living wage.

Iain Dalton