Predominantly Latin American migrant cleaners for M & G, outsourced to Peartree Cleaning Services Ltd, rallied together to protest in direct action off Fenchurch Avenue in the City of London, demanding an end to disrespect, harassment, and overwork on Thursday, 28th of August.
For months, the cleaners, UVW members, reported suffering from a hostile workplace culture of bullying, harassment, intimidation, and overwork from management. One of the cleaners, Paulina, was shocked to find out she had been sacked by management as well. The cleaners tried every possible internal path to resolve the situation but felt compelled to act following the sacking of Paulina.
Sara, a cleaner, described the treatment from management, saying, “Peartree’s manager has humiliated us, looked down on us, and shouted at us. The day before yesterday she sacked a colleague. We’re not going to put up with that.”
The cleaners and their supporters came together and organised collective action before their afternoon shift outside of the building where they work. Among the bustling crowds, financier, and investors in the heart of the City, workers and other UVW members stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity, sharing their experiences and voicing their demands for change at work. Together, they brought the power of organised workers into the heart of the City, chanting for solidarity, justice, and worker power.
Several bystanders stopped by, chanting with us for justice and took UVW flags in their hands in recognition for the cleaner’s fight.
M&G and Peartree received notice of the direct action and panicked.
The bosses agreed to sit down and speak with the cleaners.
Cheers erupted from the crowd. The cleaners had finally been heard.
The following day, Peartree conceded to the workers’ demands, including an extra worker on shift, the removal of the manager and assistant manager from the evening shifts, a full review of their workload, the reinstatement of Paulina, and the closure of two investigations.
Paulina said, “I was very disappointed about what happened to me, and I felt like I didn’t deserve the way I was treated. But now I see some big changes — it’s almost like nothing happened. I spoke with my supervisor today, and she said that if there’s ever a problem with a colleague or with me, just let me know. Most people are happy now. Without the union, I think they would have just got rid of me like that. But my colleagues took action, they protested and stood up for me, and together with the union they showed everyone how badly staff had been treated. Everyone at M&G saw what happened. It showed me that when we stand together, we can make a difference. Being a cleaner is a hard job, but it’s a very important job. It doesn’t matter if you’re a manager, a director or a cleaner — everyone should be treated with the same respect. That’s what I believe. I’m proud that my colleagues stood together for me, and I’m proud to be part of the union.”
This win represents the strength and pride of worker power in action.
Justice doesn’t wait. It’s won when workers succeed collectively.