December 2, 2005—UK contract cleaners at the Houses of Parliament are among the worst paid in Europe although they live in one of the most expensive cities in the continent, according to new figures by the Transport and General Workers’ Union and UNI, the international grouping of trade unions.
The research by UNI, whose delegation includes cleaners from the European Parliament and the Parliaments of Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Germany, shows that the UK ranks amongst the worst for pay, sick leave, pensions, and holidays, as they earn just 15p above the national minimum wage and their holiday entitlement is the lowest legally possible.
Cleaners from across Europe’s Parliaments came to London recently to show their solidarity with the contract cleaners, who are in dispute over low pay and poor conditions. Talks are taking place to attempt to resolve the dispute.
For more information, see the Transport and General Workers’ Union Web site.
