Low-paid cleaning and catering staff at City, University of London protested today against a system that means they receive less sick and holiday leave than other staff doing similar jobs.
Affected workers were at the university’s Northampton Square campus to urge university President Anthony Finkelstein to put an end to the “shameful” two-tier system, and ensure all staff receive equal treatment.
The protesting workers don’t receive the same leave entitlements as other university staff because they aren’t directly employed by the university. Cleaning staff have been outsourced to private companies Julius Rutherford & Co, while catering workers are employed by Sodexo.
As the university’s contracts with Rutherford and Sodexo are up for renewal in the summer, UNISON says university managers must do the right thing, put their staff first and seize the opportunity to bring the workers under direct university control.
UNISON City University branch secretary Damien Frettsome said “Cleaning and catering staff deserve to be treated the same as other university workers, not as second-class citizens. The university is shamefully sacrificing the wellbeing of staff to save money.
“City needs to put this right by not renewing the outsourcing contracts. Only when the workers are brought in-house will they have the equality, dignity, and respect they’ve earned.”
UNISON head of education Mike Short said: “City University has a massive opportunity to reward its hard-working staff by bringing cleaning and catering services back in-house this summer.
“These workers have been at the forefront of the fight to keep universities safe during the pandemic. They deserve the same benefits as the rest of their colleagues.”
Notes to editors:
-The #InHouseInCity rally took place on Wednesday 18 May from noon to 1pm, at Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB. Further photos of the event are available from Nathan Burns using the contact details below. UNISON head of education Mike Short will speak at the rally.
-UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members representing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media Contact:
Nathan Burns M: 07813 722747 E: n.burns@unison.co.uk