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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Foreign Office cleaners 'disciplined after seeking pay talks' | Foreign Office cleaners 'disciplined after seeking pay talks' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Cleaners who contacted the foreign secretary seeking a meeting to discuss the National Living Wage have been made redundant or face disciplinary action, it has been claimed. | Cleaners who contacted the foreign secretary seeking a meeting to discuss the National Living Wage have been made redundant or face disciplinary action, it has been claimed. |
| A group of 14 cleaners employed by contractors Interserve say they have been "punished" for raising the issue. | A group of 14 cleaners employed by contractors Interserve say they have been "punished" for raising the issue. |
| A spokeswoman called on Philip Hammond to intervene and stop the process. | A spokeswoman called on Philip Hammond to intervene and stop the process. |
| The Foreign Office and Interserve denied the claims and said no one had been made redundant. | The Foreign Office and Interserve denied the claims and said no one had been made redundant. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have not taken any disciplinary measures against any cleaning staff. Our contractor, Interserve, have assured us that no-one has been made redundant as a result of a letter asking for an increase in pay. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have not taken any disciplinary measures against any cleaning staff. Our contractor, Interserve, have assured us that no-one has been made redundant as a result of a letter asking for an increase in pay. |
| "From April 2016 all Interserve staff will benefit from the new mandatory National Living Wage." | "From April 2016 all Interserve staff will benefit from the new mandatory National Living Wage." |
| 'Stop disciplinary process' | 'Stop disciplinary process' |
| But the group of cleaners said three people had been made redundant and others had been accused of "bringing the contract into disrepute". | But the group of cleaners said three people had been made redundant and others had been accused of "bringing the contract into disrepute". |
| Rev Rosemia Brown, a community leader with campaign group Citizens UK, said: "We are calling on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to intervene, to stop the disciplinary process and ensure no-one in the FCO feels intimidated for signing a letter. | Rev Rosemia Brown, a community leader with campaign group Citizens UK, said: "We are calling on Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to intervene, to stop the disciplinary process and ensure no-one in the FCO feels intimidated for signing a letter. |
| "These cleaners need the London Living Wage and they have the right to let him know." | "These cleaners need the London Living Wage and they have the right to let him know." |
| An Interserve spokeswoman said it was committed to introducing the National Living Wage when it comes into effect in 2016, starting at £7.20 and rising to £9 an hour by 2020. | An Interserve spokeswoman said it was committed to introducing the National Living Wage when it comes into effect in 2016, starting at £7.20 and rising to £9 an hour by 2020. |
| The spokeswoman said a Foreign Office building was being closed, meaning a reduction to the number of cleaning staff needed. | The spokeswoman said a Foreign Office building was being closed, meaning a reduction to the number of cleaning staff needed. |
| Investigation call | Investigation call |
| "This is now drawing to a close and a number of people will be affected by redundancy, although we are offering opportunities elsewhere in the business wherever possible," she said. | "This is now drawing to a close and a number of people will be affected by redundancy, although we are offering opportunities elsewhere in the business wherever possible," she said. |
| "This process has been undertaken in full cooperation with unions and employee representatives and has no bearing on any other employee issues." | "This process has been undertaken in full cooperation with unions and employee representatives and has no bearing on any other employee issues." |
| Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said: "It is extraordinary that cleaners working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office appear to have been called in by their employer because they had had the temerity to write a letter to the foreign secretary about their rates of pay. | Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn said: "It is extraordinary that cleaners working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office appear to have been called in by their employer because they had had the temerity to write a letter to the foreign secretary about their rates of pay. |
| "Philip Hammond needs to investigate Interserve's conduct immediately." | "Philip Hammond needs to investigate Interserve's conduct immediately." |