The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union members want a London "living wage" of £7.20 an hour instead of the current £5.50.

They began the 24-hour strike at 1850 BST on Thursday and plan to walk out again for 48 hours on 1 July.

Transport for London (TfL) said the strikes were "completely unnecessary".

A TfL spokesman said: "Following the transfer of Metronet to Transport for London, we will be working with Metronet and its sub-contractors to ensure that they pay their employees who work on the Tube the London living wage.

"We have already reassured all interested parties, notably the trade unions, that we are taking this commitment forward.''

But RMT leader Bob Crow described the current pay and conditions as "outrageous" and said cleaners were not entitled to receive sick pay, travel facilities or a decent pension.

"Our members have been subjected to massive intimidation but tonight they will make history by striking for the first time ever for the living wage their fat cat employers have so far denied them," he said.

The RMT also called for an end to the practice of cleaners being fired from their jobs without a disciplinary hearing or right to appeal against the decision.

An early day motion supporting the cleaners was tabled by Hayes and Harlington MP John McDonnell and backed by 24 other London MPs.

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Poverty wages indefensible says RMT as Tube cleaners prepare to strike tonight

RMT: June 26 2008

THE POVERTY wages paid to London Underground cleaners are indefensible, their union says today as 700 RMT members working for four cleaning subcontractors prepare to begin their first-ever strike at 18:50 tonight.

Attempts to kick-start talks at Acas last night came to nothing as the employers made no effort to negotiate.

The number of MPs signing a Commons motion supporting the cleaners, condemning the employers and urging the mayor to ensure that contract cleaners are paid the London living wage had risen to 24 this morning (text and list below).

After voting to strike by a landslide 125-one margin, RMT cleaners working for ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM will not book on for shifts that commence during the 24 hours between 18:50 tomorrow (June 26) and 18:49 on Friday June 27.

"Our members have been subjected to massive intimidation but tonight they will make history by striking for the first time ever for the living wage their fatcat employers have so far denied them," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"These bosses are making millions on the backs of workers who are paid at rates it is simply impossible to live on, and that is indefensible.

"Our AGM in Nottingham has pledged complete support for the Tube cleaners' campaign for a living wage, and the employers should now get around the table with us to negotiate a living wage," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors: A second, 48-hour, strike is also scheduled for all shifts commencing between 18:50 on Tuesday July 1 and 18:49 on Thursday July 3.

The cleaners' demands also include 28 days' holiday, sick pay, decent pensions and travel facilities, and an end to the barbaric practice of 'third-party sackings' in which cleaners can be dismissed, with no disciplinary hearing or right of appeal, at the behest parties other than the employer - a device used to get rid of union activists.

Early Day Motion 1872

CONDITIONS FOR CLEANERS EMPLOYED ON LONDON UNDERGROUND

Tabled by John McDonnell and signed by June 26 by Harry Cohen, Andrew Dismore, Neil Gerrard, Diane Abbot, Jeremy Corbyn, Mark Durkan, Andrew George, Linda Riordan, Lindsay Hoyle, Lynne Jones, Chris McCafferty, Alasdair McDonnell, Gregory Campbell, Ronnie Campbell, Ann Cryer, Janet Dean, Ian Gibson, John Battle, Peter Bottomley, Robert Wareing and Phil Willis

"That this House fully supports the 700 cleaners on London Underground who are members of the RMT union, who have voted by a margin of 125-to-one to take strike action for the London living wage and improved working conditions, including decent sick pay, pensions, holiday entitlement and travel facilities; notes that the action also seeks to end the disgraceful practice of third-party sackings in which cleaners can be dismissed, with no disciplinary hearing or right of appeal, at the behest of parties other than the employer; is appalled that these vulnerable workers who do such an essential job for London must get by on rates of pay of little more than £5.50 an hour; believes that such exploitation brings shame on London as it prepares for the 2012 Olympics; further notes that the cleaners are employed by contractors ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM who are subcontracted to Metronet and Tube Lines to undertake cleaning for London Underground; therefore believes that Transport for London (TfL) has a clear responsibility to assist in resolving this dispute; calls on the Mayor of London to honour the pledge of the previous Mayor that cleaners on Metronet contracts would receive the London living wage as soon as they passed under TfL control, and to bring pressure on Tube Lines also to pay the living wage; condemns the intimidation of cleaners by employers in this dispute; and urges cleaning bosses instead to direct their energies to reaching a just, negotiated statement."