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05.11.2025 / News / Worker's Story / Justice for Cleaners

Dismissed after attending her sister’s funeral, Jemima fought back and got her job back! 

“I told myself my union had to intervene, and yes, they did. I’m so happy today because the union defended me tremendously well. It’s good to belong to a union that knows what they’re doing — a community, a family that truly cares.”

Jemima, school cleaner and UVW member

After nearly 20 years of service as a school cleaner in London, Jemima, originally from Ghana, was dismissed after returning from unpaid compassionate leave to attend her sister’s funeral. With the support of United Voices of the World (UVW), she challenged her dismissal and won reinstatement. Her victory proves that no worker should suffer for doing what’s human and just, and that together, we can hold employers accountable. 

Earlier this year, Jemima requested time off to travel to Ghana for her sister’s funeral. As the school was open at that time, her employer, a cleaning contractor servicing the school, agreed to the leave on the condition it would be unpaid, which she accepted. But when she returned three weeks later, she was told to leave the premises immediately. A few days later, she received a dismissal letter accusing her of “poor attendance levels and timekeeping” and “failing to follow management instructions.” No investigation or disciplinary process took place, and Jemima was denied the chance to respond or to have a union rep present — we thought this was a clear breach of her rights. 

UVW appealed the dismissal on the grounds of procedural failure and disability discrimination, arguing that thr company had breached both the Employment Relations Act 1999 and the Equality Act 2010.  

Jemima has long-standing health issues, but her employer had never referred her to Occupational Health — doctors employed by companies to assess workers’ health and recommend adjustments — nor made any reasonable adjustments to her duties to accommodate her condition. By citing poor attendance and timekeeping linked to her disability, and failing to make reasonable adjustments or refer her to Occupational Health, we believed the employer acted in breach of the Equality Act 2010. 

Jemima’s case is not an isolated one; it reflects the challenges many migrant and low-paid workers face. Her experience highlights how, regardless of years of service or loyalty, workers can still face unfair treatment — but through solidarity and persistence, justice is possible. 

If you have similar issues in your workplace, join UVW and we will fight together >>

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