The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) is objecting to administrative measures by multinational company ISS that are causing hardship for its low paid members.
ISS is standardising its payroll system across the country. In the midst of the changes cleaners at HMRC offices who are paid fortnightly will find their wage packets a week short in mid-April.
To offset this, the company is offering an interest free “bridging loan”. But staff are expected to pay this back quickly in four instalments, which union members say leaves them struggling for a further two months of pay days.
ISS had a net profit of £275 million in 2017. Its staff who clean the offices at HM Revenue and Customs receive only the minimum wage.
PCS is campaigning for the workers to be paid a living wage of £10 per hour, along with occupational sick pay and more holidays.
The company has previously told the union that HMRC rejected a contract with them that allows for a living wage.
Phil Dickens, from PCS’s National Executive Committee, said: “This probably looked great on paper to some high paid executives in a boardroom. But if you’re on minimum wage, finding your wages £200 short is a huge issue. Even if a loan covers that, paying back £50 a fortnight just makes the hardship last longer and potentially forces workers into debt.
“ISS on its website claims to be a living wage employer. This situation makes a mockery of that claim, as well as showing that outsourcing is just a scam so government departments like HMRC can wash their hands of poverty pay. Something has to change, and soon.”
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Justice for HMRC Cleaners 
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