While London is one of the most glamorous and
expensive cities in the world, the workers who keep the British capital clean
are often overlooked and disregarded. They are paid so lowly that they can often
barely survive. And yet, cleaners are fighting back. In a seminar organised by
the Centre for the Study of
Social and Global Justice (CSSGJ) at Nottingham University, Albero, Percy
and Petros from the independent union United Voices of the
World reported from their successful struggles to ensure the payment of
the living wage at the Barbican as well as Sotheby's Auction house in London.
In this post, I will report on some of the key aspects of their struggles.
Taking industrial action and winning
Albero and Percy spoke about their fears, when taking
industrial action. Their jobs are poorly paid, but they are all they have.
Intimidated, disrespected on a daily basis, they were worried that taking
action may result in being sacked. And yet, they also mentioned how coming
together as a group of workers, exchanging their experiences and planning their
strategy jointly, they felt encouraged and emboldened to move ahead. It is
often this sense of collectiveness, which can motivate workers to go beyond
their individualised situation and engage in industrial action.
As part of the seminar, the film Waging a living in London covering the successful struggle at the
Barbican with Albero in the main role was shown.
Interestingly, when several economists were asked in
the documentary how the wages for cleaners in London could be raised, the
response was that ultimately wages depended on market forces and the interplay
of supply and demand. More than the minimum wage of just over £6 was simply not
possible. The London living
wage of £9.15 per hour would be out of reach. And yet, when workers
organised and went on strike, ultimately the Barbican, Europe's largest
multi-arts and conference venue, had to give in and agree on paying the living
wage. Sotheby’s, an auction house for fine art, antiques, books, jewellery, toys, dolls,
and other collectible memorabilia with several hundreds of million pounds
annual revenue, even agreed on paying sick pay on top of the living wage (see Bdaily
Business News, 25 February 2015). In short, the level of wages is not a
reflection of market forces, but depends on the balance of power between
employers and workers. When the latter successfully mobilised, the former were
ultimately forced into making concessions.
Workers’ new sources of power
It is often
argued that globalisation has deprived labour movements of their power to
counter exploitation by capital. Nevertheless, as Eddie Webster, Rob Lambert and Andries Bezuidenhout illustrate in their
excellent book Grounding
Globalization: Labour in the Age of Insecurity (John Wiley and Sons,
2008), globalisation has also provided workers with new weapons (see Globalisation, labour and the manufacturing of insecurity). In more
detail, they identify symbolic/moral power and logistical power as new sources
of strength for labour. It is especially symbolic or moral power, involving ‘the
struggle of “right” against “wrong”, providing the basis for an appeal both to
the public and politicians, as well as to allies in civil society’ (Webster,
Lambert and Bezuidenhout, 2008: 12), which is important to understand the
success of the cleaners’ struggle.
As Petros
explained during the seminar, considering the nature of the cleaning sector, a
strike by cleaners will never stop ‘production’. It is too easy via agencies to
hire replacement workers at short notice. Instead, strikes are just one aspect
of a wider publicity campaign, naming and shaming big institutional players
such as the Barbican and Sotheby’s into making concessions. By combining
strikes with media coverage and linking up with a group of supportive MPs, the
union ultimately changed the balance of power in favour of the cleaners,
leaving both employers with no alternative, but to comply with the demands.
Where are the other, big trade unions?
Can this
strategy be a recipe for ‘cleaning up’ the cleaning sector as a whole? This is
to some extent doubtful, considering that it will be more difficult to apply
morale power to less well-known companies. The significance of the cleaners’ victory,
however, should not be underestimated. Their victory is an inspiration for us
all in struggles for social justice. Another world is possible and London
cleaners have taken a first step!
Prof. Andreas Bieler
Professor of Political Economy
University of Nottingham/UK
Andreas.Bieler@nottingham.ac.uk
Personal website: http://andreasbieler.net
13 March 2015
Prof. Andreas Bieler
Professor of Political Economy
University of Nottingham/UK
Andreas.Bieler@nottingham.ac.uk
Personal website: http://andreasbieler.net
13 March 2015
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