Bring the SOAS cleaners in house now!

The Issue

Cleaners at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have been campaigning for a decade to be brought in-house - directly employed by SOAS. Yet SOAS has consistently resisted these calls and now plans to sign a new five year deal to outsource the cleaners to a private company on April 18.

During recent negotiations, management tabled no offer that related to cleaners' demands, and postponed any further talks until April 21 - that is, after the contract will have already been signed.

Bringing the cleaners in-house has the overwhelming support of the SOAS community. Here are the figures:

- 98.4% voted in favour at a staff and student referendum.

- Over 220 academics have signed an open letter supporting the cleaners' demands.

- Dozens of student sports teams and societies have urged management to bring the cleaners in-house.

Management's core argument that outsourcing saves them money was dealt a devastating blow when an independent report published earlier this year stated clearly that bringing the cleaners in-house would be "cost neutral".

Year after year, Justice for Cleaners has pushed for dignity, equality and justice in the workplace. At a time when almost 500.000 cleaners are outsourced in the UK, at a time when they are all too often denied basic workers' rights such as a living wage, pensions and sick pay, a victory for the SOAS cleaners could send ripples throughout the system.

Sign this petition and help us send a clear message to SOAS management:

IN HOUSE NOW!

This petition had 226 supporters

The Issue

Cleaners at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have been campaigning for a decade to be brought in-house - directly employed by SOAS. Yet SOAS has consistently resisted these calls and now plans to sign a new five year deal to outsource the cleaners to a private company on April 18.

During recent negotiations, management tabled no offer that related to cleaners' demands, and postponed any further talks until April 21 - that is, after the contract will have already been signed.

Bringing the cleaners in-house has the overwhelming support of the SOAS community. Here are the figures:

- 98.4% voted in favour at a staff and student referendum.

- Over 220 academics have signed an open letter supporting the cleaners' demands.

- Dozens of student sports teams and societies have urged management to bring the cleaners in-house.

Management's core argument that outsourcing saves them money was dealt a devastating blow when an independent report published earlier this year stated clearly that bringing the cleaners in-house would be "cost neutral".

Year after year, Justice for Cleaners has pushed for dignity, equality and justice in the workplace. At a time when almost 500.000 cleaners are outsourced in the UK, at a time when they are all too often denied basic workers' rights such as a living wage, pensions and sick pay, a victory for the SOAS cleaners could send ripples throughout the system.

Sign this petition and help us send a clear message to SOAS management:

IN HOUSE NOW!

The Decision Makers

Valerie Amos
Valerie Amos
Director, SOAS
Laura Gibbs
Laura Gibbs
Registrar, SOAS
SOAS Board of Trustees
SOAS Board of Trustees
SOAS, University of London

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Petition created on 6 April 2016