Issue 142

Cleaners in pay dispute

08th May 2006

Waterfront has learned that disputes regarding pay are brewing beyond the academic periphery.

This week we were contacted by a member of the university's cleaning staff, who has revealed that she and her fellow workers are also in a deadlock over their salary increases. Around eighty domestics are employed by Swansea University's Estates Services but their pay rise is currently withheld.

"We signed a contract with the university last August to increase our wage to £6 an hour by August 2006," said a cleaning spokeswoman, who asked to remain anonymous. "We should be earning £5.68 an hour but we're still only on £5.52."

The university has argued that it has been forced to enact a pay freeze due to an ongoing row with the porters about their working conditions. But, it seems that their salaries have not been affected.

"We sympathise with the porters, but if they can have their pay rise, why can't we have ours?" she questioned. "Our union T&G is involved in this situation and we have sent letters to Estates informing them of our anger. If it is not resolved soon, then we'll be taking matters further."

Hannah Thomas