I could hear the protest as I stood waiting to cross the road from
Monument Station, but it got a little quieter for
some speeches, both in English and Spanish
Most of the cleaners in London are migrant workers who have settled
here - some many years ago, but still
find it much easier to speak in their first language - and have their
speeches translated
A row of police stood in front of the office building - with the United
Voices of the World banner facing them
'Dignidad, Respeto' needs little translation. The cleaners are demanding
dignity and respect - and a living wage
'Justice For Cleaners'
Whistles and vuvuzelas keep up the noise between speeches and chanting
slogans
'We are NOT the Dirt We Clean'
Victor speaks and leads some chanting for the London Living Wage
currently cleaners here get the national minimum wage - not enough
to live on in London
Cleaning firm CIty Central who employ Lee Hecht Harrison's cleaners
have threatened to sack them if they strike
but the right to strike is protected by law
City workers on their way home had to walk through the protest on
the pavement outside the offices
'No One Should Be Working Poor' and we should have minimum wages that
are enough to live on, not a so-called
living wage well below what is needed to live in London.
The cleaners are truly on poverty pay, cleaning the offices of a fantastically
wealthy company.
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Other sites with my pictures include
london pictures
londons industrial history
lea valley / river lea
and you can read what I think about photography on my blog at
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