RMT train cleaning crews, employed by the Mitie company and servicing First Great Western trains out of depots at Cardiff and Swansea will strike for a further 24 hours this week following a 100% vote for action in a dispute over pensions, payment of wages and a failure to communicate.
All RMT members employed by Mitie at Swansea High Street Station and Cardiff Central Station on the First Great Western contract will not book on for shifts between the hours of 06.00 hours on Friday 25th February 2011 and 05.59 hours on Saturday 26th February 2011.
Mitie, which recently announced a massive 12% jump in profits, brands itself as an “outsourcing specialist” mopping up facilities contracts in both the private and public sectors.
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
“As a result of wage discrepancies, which have proved to be a serious issue for some of our members who have been short-changed by hundreds of pounds, a dispute exists between Mitie and RMT and following a 100% vote for action we will strike for 24 hours on the 25th and 26th February. This appalling situation shines the spotlight on just how these facilities companies operate and how they treat their low-paid staff.
“Furthermore, the continued lack of pension contributions by First Great Western Cleaning Contractor Mitie, on behalf of our members employed at Swansea High Street and other depots, is nothing short of a scandal. Despite numerous promises made by Mitie to resolve the matter with urgency, there has been no resolution and as a result of these combined attacks on working conditions RMT members have returned a rock-solid mandate for action and will strike.
“Mitie are using all sorts of disgraceful excuses to delay proceedings and have even taken to blaming the previous contractor (ISS) for not passing adequate information to them during the TUPE process. RMT does not accept that and we will not sit back and allow management to treat our members with complete and utter contempt.
“The company has seen the unanimous vote for strike action, which reflects the anger amongst their staff, and it’s now up to Mitie to step up with a line-by-line resolution to each of the issues we have raised in this dispute.”
