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PRESS RELEASE - John Lewis Cleaners to strike during the Oxford Street Olympic Torch Rally Friday 20th July at 6am - 1pm Thursday 26th July The cleaners of the flagship John Lewis Partnership store on Oxford Street are continuing their strike against staff cuts and for the London Living Wage. Their union, the IWW, has served notice that their next strikes will take place on Friday 20th July and on Thursday 26th July which will be the same day as the Olympic torch passes through Oxford Street. The dispute started on 13th July when members of the IWW Cleaners’ Branch gave a resounding mandate for strike action with 80% turnout with 90% voting in favour of industrial action. This has been supported by activists and members of the public supporting the strike day and also a lively and loud demonstration on Saturday 14th July. Cleaners at John Lewis Partnership at employed through a contractor Integrated Cleaning Management (ICM) who recently announced up to 50% cuts, comprising cuts in cleaners hours (wages) and jobs. ICM have refused to recognise the union for collective bargaining and rejected outright a claim for the London Living Wage of £8.30 per-hour, a rate set by the Greater London Authority and championed by Mayor Boris Johnson. At talks today the cleaners union proposed a significant compromise to reach a settlement – the proposals which were for a reduced pay rise and staged move towards the London Living Wage and withdrawal of cuts proposals were rejected out of hand. One cleaner and mother of 2, Rebecca said: "The wages they pay is too low, I have to work 3 jobs to take home, £800 a month. After I've paid my rent, all bills, I don't always have enough to feed my children and myself. " Chris Ford, Regional Secretary for IWW says: "John Lewis is supposedly a partnership where all the workers are equal. But our members feel that some are more equal than others, they are second class citizens in this store and deserve to decent wage that affords them the basics in life. Not one shred of evidence has been presented to justify the staff cuts which appear to be about maximising profits with no regard to the needs of staff. Union leaders have been rallying in support of the John Lewis cleaners. At a demonstration at 1:00 pm outside the Oxford Street Store. The civil service union PCS Assistant General Secretary Chris Baugh will attend and states: “PCS fully supports the John Lewis workers' demand for the living wage. Employers who sub-contract poverty pay, like the government and John Lewis, need to be both exposed and taken on.’ He will be joined by Janine Booth of the RMT National Executive and representatives of CWU, NUJ and the FBU.