London cleaners strike for National Living Wage

Cleaners across the capital are walking out of their jobs today as they fight for the London living wage and decent sick pay - The Guardian reports.

The strikers, who are based at five sites in London, are asking for the £10.20 an hour London living wage, which is based on the cost of living in the capital. They also want to discuss the issue of sick pay, which they currently do not receive for the first three days of absence and which thereafter is statutory sick pay of £18 a day.

“We are going on strike so we can live, not just survive,” one of the strikers told the Guardian. She reported that she earns just over £1000 per month, but over half of that goes on paying her rent.

Some of the cleaners are employed by the facilities company OCS Group, but the cleaners have claimed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for their pay. Workers cleaning Kensington and Chelsea town hall, who are employed by Amey, a private contractor, will also be striking. The action has been organised by the United Voices of the World union.