“Migrant cleaners at an ‘anti-racist’ ad firm are on strike over pay”

…Outsourced night cleaners at London’s Ogilvy UK – part of the global Ogilvy group – walked out today after the agency refused to negotiate on higher wages and full sick pay.

The workers, who are directly employed by outsourcing firm Anabas, say unsociable hours and the high cost of living mean they deserve more than the £11.95 an hour they get under the London Living Wage…

Union United Voices of the World (UVW) said Ogilvy had the ultimate say over pay and conditions for its outsourced workers…

Ogilvy and its parent company WPP were among the many organisations to announce anti-racism commitments following the Black Lives Matter movement sparked by George Floyd’s murder.

An Ogilvy spokesperson told openDemocracy it requires contractors to pay the London Living Wage. They added: “We have been assured by Anabas that they are engaging in constructive dialogue with their employees in relation to any issues they have.”

A spokesperson for Anabas said: “We are engaging with our evening cleaning team both collectively and on a voluntary one to one basis to discuss any concerns they raise both as a group or individually.”…