Backlash after TfL continues to outsource cleaners

"The demonstration, to be held on 4 February, follows TfL's decision to award a new fiveyear cleaning contract to the outsourcing company Mitie. TfL says the agreement with Mitie will involve a pilot to assess whether cleaning and facilities can be brought in-house in an efficient and affordable way in the longer term. However, the union is calling on London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to terminate Mitie's contract and publish an urgent plan for the insourcing of all TfL cleaners."

"The new contract will cover the cleaning of trains, Tube and bus stations, TfL head office buildings and waste collection at City Hall. This includes dealing with pest control and graffiti. Previously, cleaning on the TfL network was outsourced to AMB UK, from 2017. Sir Sadiq said: "I'm delighted that TfL has committed to a comprehensive pilot exploring how they could deliver affordable cleaning services in-house, as I have long championed insourcing where possible.""

"It is calling on the London Assembly to launch a formal inquiry into the extent of corporate influence on City Hall. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the mayor "is allowing TfL to be captured by private corporations operating beyond democratic control". He added: "Handing thousands of cleaners to Mitie for another five years, while claiming to support insourcing, exposes how hollow that commitment is at the moment.""

RMT will stage a protest outside Transport for London's board meeting at City Hall on 4 February to press for cleaners to be brought in-house. TfL awarded a new fiveyear cleaning contract to Mitie that includes a pilot to test whether cleaning and facilities can be insourced efficiently and affordably long-term. The contract covers trains, Tube and bus stations, TfL head office buildings and waste collection at City Hall, including pest control and graffiti. Cleaning was previously outsourced to AMB UK from 2017. The union accuses corporate capture and calls for a London Assembly inquiry. TfL says the contract focuses on staff welfare and will inform any future insourcing decisions.

Read at www.bbc.com