Parliament cleaners win battle for "living wage"

Cleaners at the Houses of Parliament have won their campaign for a living wage after two one-day strikes in 2005.

Their hourly pay increased from £5.20 to £6.10 on 1 March and will go up to £6.40 hour in October. There should then be a further increase to £6.70, the rate they were claiming, from January 2007.

Jack Dromey, deputy general secretary of the cleaners’ union the T&G, said “One year ago Parliament paid poverty wages, now the cleaners have won a living wage and respect. The contractor, the parliamentary authorities and the cleaners have all played their part in reaching this agreement.”

The cleaners will also now be entitled to company sick pay for the first time along with 20 days’ holiday a year on top of public holidays. Negotiations will continue on implementing a pension scheme.