Save the La Retraite RC school cleaners jobs!

Dear Dominic Malins, La Retraite head, Helena Wojnowska, La Retraite Facilities Manager and Ana Oliveira – Operations Director SSL, I am writing to you…

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To: Dominic Malins La Retraite head, Helena Wojnowska La Retraite Facilities Manager, Ana Oliveira - Operations Director SSL

Dear Dominic Malins, La Retraite head, Helena Wojnowska, La Retraite Facilities Manager and Ana Oliveira - Operations Director SSL,

I am writing to you to express my support for the cleaners at La Retraite and urge you to listen to them and the union that represents them and has a recognition agreement, UVW.

I understand that the school intends to change the cleaners' shift times from their current time of 3.30pm–5.30pm to 5pm–7pm, and that the reasons provided for this proposed change concern the increased use of La Retraite for after school clubs.

However, I also understand that a small number of cleaners have informed you that they will not be able to work the proposed new shift times due to a either having another job at that time, which they cannot afford to resign from, or childcare commitments, or simply because they have to wake up at 4am to start their working day and would not have time for family, dinner and adequate rest if they were getting home at 8.30pm or later as would be the case for them.

The information I have is that alternative proposals have been put forward which would ensure that no cleaners would have to lose their jobs, and which would not impact on the school’s ability to rent out its facilities.

The cleaners' desire to continue to work at La Retraite is so strong that they have voted to take strike action. This clearly represents a breakdown in communication and a lack of compassion.

Surely there is a way for some cleaners to start work at 4pm, instead of 5pm. Indeed, the cleaning contractor and the cleaner’s recognised union agreed to this, but La Retraite rejected it. I fail to see and have been informed that no evidence or arguments have been provided to support the school’s position that having a small group of cleaners start at 4pm would in any way negatively impact on the school or the quality of cleaning.

And even if such evidence existed, it does not appear that La Retraite has balanced the cost to the school with the cost to the livelihoods of the cleaners. This is disappointing given that La Retraite has a strong professed commitment to supporting families from low-income backgrounds yet does not appear to extend this commitment to its cleaners.

It is clear that through constructive dialogue the school could reach an agreement with cleaning staff, which both acts in the interests of the school and takes their experience and insight into the cleaning needs of the school into account, whilst also saving their jobs.

We urge you to do the right thing.

Yours sincerely,

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