‘It felt like facing a lion’: Migrant workers secure 15 per cent pay rise and sick pay
Summary
Date Reported: 3 Jun 2024
Location: United Kingdom
Companies
Westgate Cleaning Services (WCS) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Dominican Republic , Cleaning & maintenance , Women , Unknown migration status ) , Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Ecuador , Cleaning & maintenance , Women , Unknown migration status )Issues
Right to Food , Poverty Wages , Living Wage , Other Discrimination , Denial of leave , Excessive production targets , Injuries , Occupational Health & SafetyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: The company negotiated and the workers secured a pay rise, full sick pay and improved contracts following a campaign organised by United Voices of the World. A spokesman from Westgate Cleaning said the company was pleased the dispute had been resolved. Blackheath Prep school has been approached for comment.
Source type: News outlet
Cleaners at a private prep school have secured a pay rise and full sick pay after threatening their employer with strike action earlier this month.
The migrant workers who clean Blackheath Prep school in St Germans Place, Blackheath, will see a 15 per cent pay rise, full sick pay and improved contracts following a campaign organised by United Voices of the World, a trade union for low-paid migrant workers.
Dominican cleaner and UVW member Santa Perez, 34, from Lewisham, said: “I am so happy for this win!
“This is not only a victory for us but also for other cleaners who come and work at the school…
Judit Morales, an Ecuadorian cleaner at Blackheath Prep said: “We never had sick pay before, this is a big win for us, thanks to our unity and the support of our union that had our back all the way.
“Full respect to my union. I was involved in the negotiations, and I told the bosses what we needed…
A spokesman from Westgate Cleaning said the company was pleased the dispute had been resolved.
Blackheath Prep school has been approached for comment.