Urgent appeal from the SOAS UNISON Branch.
SOAS Justice for Cleaners Lobby of SOAS Governing Body
Thursday, 4 July 2013, 12.30pm, Main SOAS Building
THIS IS THE BIG ONE! The SOAS Governing Body meets on Thursday, 4 July 2013 and will be taking a decision on whether to bring our members working for the cleaning contractors (ISS) back in house following the Working Group it set up to investigate the issue.
The lobby, called by the SOAS Justice for Cleaners Campaign and supported by SOAS UNISON, UCU and Students’ Union follows months of campaigning which has clearly demonstrated that the whole SOAS community supports the ending of the two tier workforce in our institution and backs the campaign for our outsourced members to be treated with dignity and respect.
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND THIS LOBBY!
We are hoping that if we show SOAS management the strength and feeling that exists over this issue then the School will have to take note and end the discrimination faced by these workers.
We have, however, also begun the process leading to possible industrial action in the Autumn should the Governing Body choose to ignore this. A consultative ballot of all our SOAS UNISON members working for ISS voted overwhelmingly (44 in favour with only 1 against) to take sustained strike action if their demand for fair sick pay, holiday entitlement and pensions is not met.
This issue is not going to go away and we will continue to press until these workers have secured the access to decent pensions, holiday entitlement and sick pay they deserve.
Sandy Nicoll
SOAS UNISON Branch Secretary
Camden Trades Council 