Cleaners beat the Bank of New York Mellon in just 30 hours

A statement from the UVW union declared:

"BREAKING NEWS: VICTORY, VICTORY, VICTORY (in just 30 hours!) for cleaners at the Bank of New York!

Remember our post (copied below) from two days ago that 'United Voices of the World union members who clean the plush offices of one of the wealthiest financial institutions on the planet, the Bank of New York Mellon at Canary Wharf, have just notified the bosses of their intention to strike in their fight against poverty pay and for a living wage."

Well, the threat worked. Last night the bank's cleaning manager announced to all the cleaners that as of next month they will all receive £10.20 per hour equating to an extra £4,000 per year per worker!

This victory was achieved within just 30 hours. To be precise it was the 23rd May at 5.17pm that we submitted our formal claim for the living wage putting the company on notice that if they did not commit to paying it within 7 days, and implementing it within the month, that we would ballot the cleaners for an all-out strike. The cleaners, who work the night shift at the bank, were told at 11.30pm on 24th May that as of next month they will all receive £10.20 per hour.

This victory was achieved is record time for UVW, breaking our previous record which was achieved at Withers Law firm in Fleet Street where within 96 hours the company capitulated to our demand to pay their cleaners the London Living Wage who were formerly on the minimum wage, and backdate it too.

This is yet another example of the so-called 'unorganisable' and ‘invisible’ workers getting organised, fighting for dignity and respect and winning!

If they can do it, then so can you!"

Meanwhile, other groups of cleaners organising through the UVW union still have active disputes over the London Living Wage at Kensington and Chelsea town halls and the Ministry of Justice.

Elsewhere in the capital, cleaners organised through another grassroots union, CAIWU, are campaigning to win the London Living Wage at Thomas Cook and against issues of racism and bullying at the Museum of London. CAIWU are planning weekly Friday afternoon protests until these issues are resolved, writing "Join us from 4.30 outside Thomas Cook, 200 Aldersgate, and then outside the Museum of London from 5. Come along for half an hour, make some noise, and let the Museum know what you think about their tolerance of racism."

Originally posted at Freedom News, with additional reporting for libcom.org.