Unite press release
For immediate release: Tuesday 19 October 2021
Hundreds of cleaners ‘who joined Unite to organise and fight for better pay’ have won their campaign for an hourly wage of £10 an hour at the University of Sheffield.
Unite regional officer, Harriet Eisner said: “Sheffield University listened and was moved by the cleaners’ effective campaign. Unite negotiated with management to boost the pay of the lowest paid workers at the University to £10 an hour. The outcome sends a message of hope to other low-paid workers. Getting organised into a union is the best way to improve your job, pay and conditions.”
The University’s management signed an agreement with Unite representatives today (Tuesday 19 October) to confirm the decision to increase the workers’ pay from £9.52 to £10 an hour. The campaign was backed by the University’s students, by local Labour MPs and the Sheffield Socialist Party. Over 14,000 people signed a petition calling for a £10 hourly wage.
The cleaners who are directly employed by the University of Sheffield have been organising themselves since March 2021. There are more than 350 cleaners employed by the University.
Unite Branch secretary, Chris Rawlinson said: “This is a huge victory for cleaners at the University who joined Unite to organise and fight for better pay. We are delighted that the University has recognised the hard work and dedication of our key workers by promising a £10 minimum wage from November 1st. We hope that this win will inspire cleaners across Sheffield to organise and demand a fair wage from other employers in the city.”
ENDS