Cleaners at John Lewis, one of the UK's premier department stores, will protest on Saturday against what they believe are unfair rates of pay and poor treatment.
Cleaners at the flagship London store at 300, Oxford Street will be demonstrating from 3pm in what they promise will be a 'lively protest', with speakers including John McDonnell MP.
Campaign group 'Industrial Workers of the World' have explained the cleaners' reasons for protesting:
2) Often not paid for the hours they work.
3) Not provided appropriate equipment or protection.
4) Discriminated against by their managers. For example, some Hindu cleaners are called 'bloody Indians', whilst some larger employees are called 'pig heads'
5) At threat of seeing 50% redundancies. The remaining 50% of the cleaners would be expected to cover the work of those made redundant with the same hours and with no extra pay!
6) Prejudicially excluded from the so-called John Lewis partnership.
They also claim that:
1) Last year they took in over £8 billion in revenue; £393 million in operating profits; and created 4,400 new jobs.
2) This year they predict to create 1,900 new jobs.
3) The John Lewis chairman earns £825,000 a year, and the CEO more than £500,000 a year!!!!
Andy Street, CEO of John Lewis claims that "there is no conflict between owners and workers. They are one and the same", however the claims of the cleaners suggest otherwise.
The protest is the latest in a number of demonstrations across the country demanding a 'living wage' instead of minimum wage, which they claim is not enough to fund even basic necessities.
