An appeal to the labour movement
Stand with the cleaners at societe generale
protest on Friday 28th september 5:00 pm
We are calling for Justice for the cleaners who work at the Societe
Generale offices in London who are being driven further into poverty by
cuts .
Société Générale is a very large European Bank and a major Financial
Services company, its cleaners do not share in salary and benefits of
the bank employees and executives. Cleaners are hired through a
contractor – Initial Facilities.
A Pay Rise in one hand………………….
The cleaners were earning poverty wages, they were finally awarded the
London Living Wage of £8.30 per-hour on 3rd September 2012.
………..HOURS CUT WITH THE OTHER
However the cleaners have been given a pay rise in one hand and
suffered a pay cut with the other hand. The majority of cleaners were
working from Sunday to Thursday from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am , eight hours
per day.
Societe Generale and their contractor agreed to cut the cleaners
working hours by 50% This is making them even poorer than before.
Making a mockery of the Living Wage!
They have been given no choice this cut was imposed on 24h September.
Now in four hours the cleaners are expected to do all the work
previously done in eight hours.
The cleaners who are in the independent workers union IWGB have been
protesting outside the bank. They have received support from members of
RMT, PCS, UNISON, NUT, UCU and other workers and students.
In response many cleaners involved have been suspended!
Societe Generale UK charity declares they intend to ‘promote social
inclusion’. They say they are ‘working to tackle any kind of
disadvantage suffered by individuals or groups.’ However what about the
cleaners in their own offices – for them charity does not begin at home!
· Between 21 – 25 September nearly all the remaining cleaners
protesting these cuts were suspended,
· Bosses have tried to frighten the cleaners from continuing their
opposition to these cuts.
· A whole shift of non-union cleaners has been brought into their
workplace.
These low paid workers have stood firm against the odds. They are
calling for you to stand with them to achieve:
The London Living Wage without strings!
No cuts in hours – no victimisations
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