The RMT union plans to hold a protest outside Transport for London’s (TfL) board meeting at City Hall as part of its ongoing effort to push for the reintegration of cleaning staff into the organization.
The demonstration is scheduled for February 4, following TfL’s recent decision to grant a new five-year cleaning contract to the outsourcing firm Mitie.
According to TfL, this deal will include a pilot program aimed at determining whether cleaning and facilities services can be managed internally in a cost-effective manner over time.
Nevertheless, the union is urging London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to end the contract with Mitie and to swiftly develop a plan for bringing all TfL cleaning roles in-house.
This new agreement encompasses cleaning duties for trains, Tube and bus stations, TfL’s administrative buildings, as well as waste management at City Hall, which includes services for pest control and graffiti removal.
Cleaning responsibilities on the TfL network were previously handled by AMB UK since 2017.
Sir Sadiq expressed his approval, stating: “I am pleased that TfL has committed to a thorough pilot program to explore how they might provide affordable cleaning services internally, as I have consistently advocated for insourcing whenever feasible.”
The RMT has criticized the outsourcing of cleaning tasks as part of a wider trend of “corporate capture” at TfL.
The union is urging the London Assembly to initiate an official investigation into the level of corporate influence affecting City Hall.
General Secretary of the RMT, Eddie Dempsey, remarked that the mayor “is permitting TfL to be dominated by private companies that operate outside of democratic oversight.”
He further commented, “Entrusting thousands of cleaners to Mitie for another five years while professing support for insourcing reveals the emptiness of that pledge at this time.”
TfL has stated that the new contract emphasizes employee welfare, which includes fair compensation, opportunities for advancement, and stable working hours.
A TfL spokesperson noted, “Currently, TfL does not have specialized capabilities in cleaning, facilities management, and related services, so this pilot will aid in developing internal expertise while evaluating the potential advantages of bringing these services in-house.”
“We will continue to refine the details of this pilot and will share further information as discussions evolve.”
