CONTRACTED cleaning companies will be targeted by the RMT in a bid to end super-exploitation in the transport industry, the union’s AGM heard today. 

Delegates unanimously endorsed several motions on underpayment of wages and additional resources for its national cleaners campaign.  

RMT rep Bella Fashola, who has been at the forefront of organising cleaners taking several days of strike action at the company Churchill, told the Star: “The union is united as one voice, telling contracted cleaning companies — your reign of exploitation is coming to an end.  

“As an all-grades union, RMT is dedicated to its cleaning members and will fight every step of the way to secure decent wages, good conditions and respect at work.  

“Ultimately all cleaning contracts should be taken in-house but while contractors rake in millions of pounds in profit from our labour, we will take them on, and we will win.”

Fellow rep Roy Osarogiagbon said that the union was seeking justice for cleaners and accused the ABM cleaning contractor of reneging on its promises to staff.

He told delegates: “Right now, we are going through the worst situation imaginable. Every day is hardship for our members.”

He went on to describe how low wages leads to reduced “purchasing power” and impoverishment for cleaners where they cannot pay electricity bills or put enough food on the table.

He said: “The cleaning grade [in RMT] is formidable, solid, united and powerful.”

Jim Buchanan from Dorset Rail paid tribute to Ms Fashola and Mr Osarogiagbon for their campaigns and said that if cleaners on low wages can take strike action, then other RMT members can in their own disputes.

“When cleaners go out on strike for two or three days, when they earn £9–10 an hour, that’s real sacrifice and suffering,” he said.

Rounding up the debate, RMT assistant general secretary John Leach said that he applauded all the cleaning activists who work for “deeply hostile” employers.

He said: “They are getting stuck in day in, day out.

“It is a hostile place to be and they [cleaning contractors] will sack activists as soon as they can and we have to be vigilant to that.”

Mr Leach said that the union would defend sacked activists to the hilt, saying companies would not get away with it “on our watch.”