Cleaners at James Allen’s girls’ school in London scrapped strike after being compensated for cut in hours.
James Allen Girls’ School, a prestigious private school in London, lost a battle to its cleaners over improved working conditions and pay as well as compensation for a sharp reduction in their working hours. Thus, the school abolished its plans for industrial strike action, which was scheduled to start next week.
Former students of James Allen’s girls’ school (Jags) shared notes on leaflets publicizing the strike action, which was set to begin next week in the community. They called on the stakeholders and school leaders to set a better example to students as part of the dispute.
The cleaners belong to United Voices of the World (UVW), a grassroots trade union for low-paying migrant workers. They decided to take strike action after the school’s contractor decided to cut their working hours from 43 to 38 weeks a year and only offered a £1.55 per-hour rise in return.
Following the decision to strike, the appeals from the school, the teachers, former students and its cleaning contractor, DB Services, changed the course and offered to pay a higher backdated rate of £13.15 per hour to the cleaners and also guaranteed annual increment to meet to the London living wage for the following year.
According to the union, in addition to the new arrangements, the cleaners will also be compensated for the five-week cut and full sick pay.
Rosa Garcés Chinche, a Jags cleaner and UVW member, stated, “I am very happy with what we won today. We achieved a lot, especially considering for many of us it was the first time we were in a union.
“We are very appreciative of all the support we received along the way, from other union members, from the teachers who stood by us every step of the way, and from the community members and alumni of Jags that sent us so much support.
“I think it is important that migrant cleaners everywhere know that we have power in our hands, and we need to unite and build unions in order to have respect at work and win big wins. Always remember, ¡La unión hace la fuerza! [unity is strength!].”
Some of the cleans at Jags have worked for over a decade, and many others have had to work split shifts starting at 5:30 a.m. and later returning for another shift at 6 p.m.
Petros Elia, the general secretary of UVW, stated that the cleaners’ “bravery and determination” enabled them to resist the demands to accept a reduction in their working weeks in exchange for little.
Elia stated, “We’re pleased the strike action can be avoided and that Jags—the oldest independent girls’ school in London—will finally treat their cleaners with dignity and respect.”
The private school is on a 9-hectare site with many facilities, including a swimming pool, music centre, and theatre. It dates back to 1741 and charges an annual fee of £24,500 for students in their senior year. Notable alumni include Sally Hawkins, the star of Made In Dagenham.
