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| Ray Parkes (sixth left, Unite), John Partington (seventh right, TSSA) and GMB Regional Organiser, Nikki Dancey (third right) of RTUC, with strikers and RDLP supporters |
On 22 October 2019, Reading Trades Union Council and Reading & District Labour Party joined the GMB cleaners' picket at Prospect School to stand firm against the outsourcing ambition of the School Trust's management. With the announcement by Prospect School that Hayward Services Ltd were being appointed to take on the cleaning contract at the school - a decision taken without staff / trade union consultation - the GMB Regional Organiser, Nikki Dancey (RTUC Vice President), organised the affected staff. Nikki consulted with them on their views regarding the changes and - when it was clear the cleaners were solidly opposed to being outsourced - she called a ballot for industrial action, resulting in a 100% turnout and 100% support for strike action. With this mandate, the GMB has called for talks with the school in a bid to end privatisation of the cleaning service.
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| Cleaners' picket at Prospect School |
RTUC and RDLP have long argued the merits of in-house provision of services by the public sector so this struggle was one they are keen to support. Since October 2018, RDLP policy has been against outsourcing (in line with national Labour Party policy) and in favour of progressive in-sourcing of services, with Reading Borough Council's delivery of the Revenues & Benefits Service and the Leisure Service both areas for the Labour Group to consider for in-house management. In line with the anti-outsourcing policy, the Prospect School dispute was supported by Cllr Sarah Hacker and Cllr Graeme Hoskin (both of Unite the Union) who will be looked to for support in the in-sourcing drive at Reading Borough Council.
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| Nikki Dancey (GMB) coordinates the picket and protest at Prospect School's gates |
The GMB handbill - all of which were distributed to parents and others collecting children from the school as well as neighbourly passersby and some staff - ran as follows:
"The cleaners at Prospect School are in a serious dispute about privatisation. The school wishes to outsource them to a private company - Hayward Services Ltd - but the cleaners want to stop this process and simply stay working for Prospect School. The cleaners have now been balloted for industrial action.
The school have said:
1. “They can’t manage the team” - This is because the team haven’t actually had a dedicated manager for many months and the school are refusing to simply reemploy a manager for them!
2. “Haywards is a good company” – But they have told the cleaners they shouldn’t even speak to the students and staff while they work. They are there to be “seen (cleaning) but not heard”. Good companies treat their staff like human beings, not servants.
3. “Their contracts and pay won’t change” – But Haywards gave all staff documents that they wanted the cleaners to sign that were essentially new contracts on far worse terms and conditions. If they hadn’t been in the union, they may have signed away their own rights. Haywards completely breached their trust and may have been deliberately trying to exploit them.
4. “Privatisation is the only way” - But the cleaners and the union have given numerous other potential solutions and have asked for time to see if they work, but all of them have been disregarded.
The GMB says :
• The school can stop this process very easily and for no cost at all. It is in their hands to ensure the school is cleaned and the workers are looked after.
• Prospect School have already told us that this privatisation will not save the school any money, so it won’t cost them a penny to solve this dispute.
• These workers, mainly women, and many who have worked here for over 20 or 30 years, just want to stay as part of the school and be valued for their work."
Reading Trades Union Council stands with Prospect School cleaners in their struggle. Congratulations to them and their trade union in so effectively organising! RTUC awaits GMB's next call to action when solidarity will again be willingly forthcoming!
