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'They don't earn enough to live': protest at Foreign Office over cleaners' pay 'They don't earn enough to live': protest at Foreign Office over cleaners' pay
(35 minutes later)
At just after 9am at the heart of government on King Charles Street, Whitehall, a thin but steady stream of weary civil servants are making their way into the Foreign Office for the start of another week’s toil. At just after 9am at the heart of government on King Charles Street in Whitehall, a thin but steady stream of weary civil servants are making their way into the Foreign Office for the start of another week’s toil.
But after the Monday morning battle on the tube, they faced one further obstacle before getting to their desks: a gaggle of activists standing politely on the pavement. The protesters were thrusting leaflets into the hands of Foreign Office workers and asking: “Did you know your office cleaners are facing disciplinary action for asking for the living wage?”But after the Monday morning battle on the tube, they faced one further obstacle before getting to their desks: a gaggle of activists standing politely on the pavement. The protesters were thrusting leaflets into the hands of Foreign Office workers and asking: “Did you know your office cleaners are facing disciplinary action for asking for the living wage?”
About 60 activists linked to the campaign group Citizens UK attended the early morning protest in central London, after it emerged that cleaners employed by an outsourcing firm had been called to disciplinary meetings for writing to the foreign secretary over pay.About 60 activists linked to the campaign group Citizens UK attended the early morning protest in central London, after it emerged that cleaners employed by an outsourcing firm had been called to disciplinary meetings for writing to the foreign secretary over pay.
Only one cleaner, Katy Rojas, came to demonstrate. She was made redundant after the letter to Philip Hammond was sent, a move she and her supporters believe is linked to her campaigning for better pay. She said her former colleagues had felt too intimidated to join the activists on the street. Her former manager had briefly appeared to check if any cleaners were present, she said. Only one cleaner, Katy Rojas, came to demonstrate. After the letter was sent to Philip Hammond, she was made redundant a move she and her supporters believe is linked to her campaigning for better pay. She said her former colleagues had felt too intimidated to join the activists on the street. Her former manager had briefly appeared to check if any cleaners were present, she said.
Related: Philip Hammond asked to intervene in Foreign Office cleaners disputeRelated: Philip Hammond asked to intervene in Foreign Office cleaners dispute
“They made me redundant because of this campaign because I always speak out about the London living wage,” Rojas, standing outside the government department, told the Guardian. “They closed [a] building and they took the chance to make me redundant, because they don’t have the right to make me redundant.”“They made me redundant because of this campaign because I always speak out about the London living wage,” Rojas, standing outside the government department, told the Guardian. “They closed [a] building and they took the chance to make me redundant, because they don’t have the right to make me redundant.”
Rojas, from Brixton, south London, was earning just £7.04 an hour cleaning the offices of the diplomats and civil servants who handle Britain’s relations with the rest of the world. She said living on such low pay was a struggle. “You need to think about what you want to spend, what you need, and use your credit card if you want to do something extra,” she said.Rojas, from Brixton, south London, was earning just £7.04 an hour cleaning the offices of the diplomats and civil servants who handle Britain’s relations with the rest of the world. She said living on such low pay was a struggle. “You need to think about what you want to spend, what you need, and use your credit card if you want to do something extra,” she said.
“I hope the minister starts to pay the London living wage to my workmates. Mr Hammond please help your cleaners and all the people, contract people, who are working in the Foreign Office and don’t get the London living wage.”“I hope the minister starts to pay the London living wage to my workmates. Mr Hammond please help your cleaners and all the people, contract people, who are working in the Foreign Office and don’t get the London living wage.”
Prof Vincent Daly, an economist at Kingston University, was among the supporters who had come down to lend their voices to the protest. “I was amazed at the treatment I heard the cleaners were getting,” he said. “I was so angry that they should be treated that way that I just came down to show my support.”Prof Vincent Daly, an economist at Kingston University, was among the supporters who had come down to lend their voices to the protest. “I was amazed at the treatment I heard the cleaners were getting,” he said. “I was so angry that they should be treated that way that I just came down to show my support.”
Asked why he felt the cleaners needed a pay rise he said, simply: “So they can live.” Asked why he felt the cleaners needed a pay rise he said: “So they can live.”
Rabbi Janet Darley, of the South London Liberal Synagogue in Streatham, was among a gaggle of religious ministers who had attended. “I think it’s a moral imperative to treat people with justice and I don’t believe the cleaners here have been treated well,” she said. Rabbi Janet Darley, of the South London Liberal Synagogue in Streatham, was among a group of religious ministers who had attended. “I think it’s a moral imperative to treat people with justice and I don’t believe the cleaners here have been treated well,” she said.
“I don’t believe they have been properly dealt with in their pay. They don’t earn enough to live, they have to pay for housing, travel, rent. These people are working full-time and yet they can’t maintain themselves. As a rabbi I believe the government needs to take the lead with this.”“I don’t believe they have been properly dealt with in their pay. They don’t earn enough to live, they have to pay for housing, travel, rent. These people are working full-time and yet they can’t maintain themselves. As a rabbi I believe the government needs to take the lead with this.”
As protesters stood behind banners calling for the London living wage, they heard speeches from Rojas and Father Simon Cuff, a Citizens UK activist and curate at Christ the Saviour Church in Ealing Broadway. Protesters had brought their own letters to hand in to Hammond, which were collected by another vicar, Rosemia Brown, of St James’ Church, Clapton, before she and Rojas took them to the door to hand them in. As protesters stood behind banners calling for the London living wage to be implemented, they heard speeches from Rojas and Father Simon Cuff, a Citizens UK activist and curate at Christ the Saviour Church in Ealing Broadway. Protesters had brought their own letters to hand in to Hammond, which were collected by a vicar, Rosemia Brown, of St James’ Church, Clapton, before she and Rojas took them to the door to hand them in.
Cuff said: “Philip Hammond needs to answer our letter personally and he needs to make sure that the cleaners who are in his office are paid the living wage.”Cuff said: “Philip Hammond needs to answer our letter personally and he needs to make sure that the cleaners who are in his office are paid the living wage.”
Some civil servants making their way past the demonstration evidently did not have time to address the issue. However, a one or two women stopped to listen. “Atrocious!” one was overheard exclaiming. The demonstrators hope that if they can find more supporters inside the ivory tower of government, their voices may eventually be heard.