City cleaners win union agreements

Nearly half of the cleaners working in the City of London, many of whom are very low paid, are now covered by union agreements, according to the T&G general union.

The three biggest cleaning contractors in the City, including ISS, have signed collective bargaining agreements with the T&G following the high-profile Justice for Cleaners campaign. The terms of the deals are confidential, however, as agreed with the contractors involved.

The union described the agreements as a "landmark step in ending the shameful treatment of cleaners in Europe's financial centre".

It said it would now target those contractors yet to sign up as part of the union's drive to have cleaners earning the London Living Wage (currently set by the Mayor of London at £7.05 an hour) and eligible for sick pay, 28 days' holiday and a pension.