All Grades Must Back The Cleaners
For ages, RMT has argued that it is the best union for cleaners, saying that it makes sense for all workers in the same industry to be in one union, whether or not their service has been privatised. In the same industrial union, members of all grades can support each other.
If station staff and drivers don't do all that they can now to support the cleaners' strike, then all those arguments will have been empty talk. We can't claim to feel 'sorry' for the cleaners and then not use what tools we have within our power to maximise the effectiveness of their action.
Use health and safety legislation to refuse to work in an unsafe, unhygienic environment. Station supervisors, think of the safety of the staff and passengers and consider closing platforms, taking escalators out of service, and closing your station. Do not let anyone with invalid permits or who is not properly familiarised book on to cover the strike. Drivers, refuse to take trains out that have not been cleaned.
This kind of action worked when Metronet workers struck last year; surely the same can be repeated now.
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A comment ...
It's not been easy to get support for the cleaners' strike from staff in other grades.
It's been sad to see some staff thinking in terms of the way the Tube is privatised. Some show little concern for cleaners cos they work for a private contractor. Or while they feel sympathy, they don't see how they are in a direct position to influence the situation.
But it's been good to see staff starting to take cleaners more seriously when it became clear that they weren't going to turn up to work. Because the cleaners are clearly not happy to accept their situation any longer, others have begun to think that being low-paid and pushed around is not all the cleaners 'deserve'. They have felt inspired to support the action the cleaners are taking.