TfL cleaners have made a significant gain, as outsourced contractor Mitie, which took over the contract from 1 April, announced it will implement a company sick pay scheme. 

Cleaners will now be entitled to four weeks’ full sick pay.

This would not have been achieved without union pressure. RMT has protested outside City Hall, and lobbied the Mayor and the TfL Board. For the past several years, three key demands for RMT have been travel passes for cleaners, company sick pay, and improved pensions. We have now secured two out of these three. 

Until now, the lack of a sick pay scheme has meant cleaners literally could not afford to be ill, facing a choice between using annual leave, struggling by on Statutory Sick Pay, or coming to work whilst unwell, worsening their own condition and putting workmates and passengers at risk if their illness was contagious. 

During the pandemic, TfL recognised how dangerous this situation was, and subsidised a sick pay scheme. But rather than making this a contractual entitlement, it was subsequently withdrawn. Now, after renewed RMT campaigning around the transfer of the contract from ABM to Mitie, the employers have finally budged. The sick pay scheme will be funded by TfL itself, further eroding the logic of outsourcing. TfL will now be providing staff travel passes for outsourced workers, and paying cleaners’ sick pay. Why not simply employ them directly?

There is still more to do. Sick pay entitlement for cleaners still falls well below that of their directly-employed workmates. Pension arrangements are still inadequate, and TfL and outsourced contractors continue to treat the London Living Wage as a ceiling, rather than a floor. RMT will continue fighting on all these issues and, ultimately, for direct, in-house employment. 

The significant step forward on sick pay shows what’s possible when we stand together and refuse to give up the fight. Let’s redouble our efforts to win even more improvements to our lives at work. 

If you’re not already a member of the union, join RMT today!