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St Pancras station cleaners strike over pay St Pancras station cleaners strike over pay
(40 minutes later)
Cleaners at London's St Pancras International station have begun strike action in a campaign for higher wages.Cleaners at London's St Pancras International station have begun strike action in a campaign for higher wages.
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said its members, employed by Network Rail contractor Initial, began their 48-hour walkout at 06:00 GMT.The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said its members, employed by Network Rail contractor Initial, began their 48-hour walkout at 06:00 GMT.
The cleaners, who say they have not had a pay rise in four years, were offered a 13p-an-hour increase, the RMT said.The cleaners, who say they have not had a pay rise in four years, were offered a 13p-an-hour increase, the RMT said.
The station is used by Eurostar, East Midlands, First Capital Connect and Southeastern High Speed services.The station is used by Eurostar, East Midlands, First Capital Connect and Southeastern High Speed services.
Initial staff currently receive £6.76 an hour but the RMT wants to see their pay rise in line with that of another contractor, OCS, which increased pay for cleaners to £8 an hour earlier this month after a threat of strike action. 'Spilt Bollinger'
Cleaners employed by Initial plan to hold a second 48-hour strike over the issue on 1 March. The strike has not had an impact on services from the station as yet, BBC London travel reporter Jules Lang said.
Previously RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "It is a shocking indictment of London as a city that the luxurious terminal is cleaned by an exploited workforce on poverty wages and that Network Rail have done nothing to stop their contractors, Initial, from treating their staff like dirt." Initial staff currently receive £6.76 an hour, which the RMT said was "miles short of Boris Johnson's London living wage of £8.30 an hour".
In response an Initial spokeswoman said at the time: "We are re-examining our contingency plans to ensure that services to the general public are not affected." RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "Its disgraceful that the cleaners who mop up the spilt Bollinger in the St Pancras champagne bar are on poverty pay levels.
"This scandal is a blight on London's status as a world class city in the run up to the Olympics."
An Initial spokeswoman previously said: "We are re-examining our contingency plans to ensure that services to the general public are not affected."
A Network Rail spokesman said the matter was between the union and Initial.A Network Rail spokesman said the matter was between the union and Initial.
Another contractor, OCS, increased pay for cleaners to £8 an hour earlier this month after a threat of strike action.
Cleaners employed by Initial plan to hold a second 48-hour strike over the issue on 1 March.