City St. George’s Staff are demanding to be directly employed by the University, as their current contract with private company Julius Rutherfoord & Co is expected to end in August 2025.
Last Thursday cleaning staff were protesting in Northampton Square with the support of UNISON and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB).
Since 2021, cleaning staff have been advocating for better pay, benefits and rights within the workplace.
There has been cuts where my medical certificate has not been respected. They have ignored it.
City St. George’s cleaner
According to data provided by UNISON:
City staff gets 42 days holiday, but outsourced cleaners and caterers get 28 days
City staff receive full pay for 20 weeks on maternity leave, and 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay
Whereas, cleaners get 6 weeks at 90% full pay and then 33 weeks of statutory maternity pay
The rights of Cleaners around the UK
The City cleaners experience reflect a wider issue across UK according to the most recent data from According to UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
Their research indicates that cleaners face challenges on a daily basis and are entitled to better protection and wages, as well as regular contracts.
Further data from thegovernment outlines that 19% of black women are employed in cleaning operation jobs, the is highest figure within all ethnic groups.
Conflicting research of bringing staff in-house
In 2016, the Association For Public Service Excellence (APSE) conducted an investigation in the University of SOAS revealing that the costs of bringing in-house cleaning staff was merely identical to outsourcing staff over to private companies, leaving the University with no substantial profit nor gain.
However, research conducted by consultancy firm Mott MacDonald reveals that in-housing cleaners would save over £2.3 million over the next five years.
Charles Aprile, IWGB branch organiser and was at the protest last week, said he wanted more ‘transparency’ behind City’s decision to not hire their cleaners in-house, whilst as other universities such as Goldsmiths, LSHTM and Birkbeck have already bought cleaning services in-house.
City News contacted City St George’s, but they declined to comment.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineCity St. George’s University cleaners protests amid lack of permanent contracts
Short HeadlineUniversity cleaners protest for direct employment
StandfirstCity St George's staff are advocating for direct employment. The University is yet to comment.
City St. George’s Staff are demanding to be directly employed by the University, as their current contract with private company Julius Rutherfoord & Co is expected to end in August 2025.
Last Thursday cleaning staff were protesting in Northampton Square with the support of UNISON and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB).
Since 2021, cleaning staff have been advocating for better pay, benefits and rights within the workplace.
There has been cuts where my medical certificate has not been respected. They have ignored it.
City St. George’s cleaner
According to data provided by UNISON:
City staff gets 42 days holiday, but outsourced cleaners and caterers get 28 days
City staff receive full pay for 20 weeks on maternity leave, and 13 weeks of statutory maternity pay
Whereas, cleaners get 6 weeks at 90% full pay and then 33 weeks of statutory maternity pay
The rights of Cleaners around the UK
The City cleaners experience reflect a wider issue across UK according to the most recent data from According to UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).
Their research indicates that cleaners face challenges on a daily basis and are entitled to better protection and wages, as well as regular contracts.
Further data from thegovernment outlines that 19% of black women are employed in cleaning operation jobs, the is highest figure within all ethnic groups.
Conflicting research of bringing staff in-house
In 2016, the Association For Public Service Excellence (APSE) conducted an investigation in the University of SOAS revealing that the costs of bringing in-house cleaning staff was merely identical to outsourcing staff over to private companies, leaving the University with no substantial profit nor gain.
However, research conducted by consultancy firm Mott MacDonald reveals that in-housing cleaners would save over £2.3 million over the next five years.
Charles Aprile, IWGB branch organiser and was at the protest last week, said he wanted more ‘transparency’ behind City’s decision to not hire their cleaners in-house, whilst as other universities such as Goldsmiths, LSHTM and Birkbeck have already bought cleaning services in-house.
City News contacted City St George’s, but they declined to comment.
