CATERERS who have been striking for two months at a government department are celebrating after winning the London Living Wage.

Contracted out caterers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who work for the Aramark employment agency, have forced their employer to accept an hourly wage of £10.55.

The workers, who are members of PCS, have also gained improvements in their working conditions, holiday and sick pay.

The landmark decision winds up the dispute, which began in December 2018, and is the result of over two months of indefinite strike action by the workers which began in July following a bout of walkouts in January.

Their colleagues, who are contracted by the agency giant ISS, are still in negotiations between the government, the employer and the union.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka announced at the Trades Union Congress last month that business secretary Andrea Leadsom had agreed with the union in principle that the workers should receive the wage rise.

However, the strike continued while negotiations were ongoing and the union formally released the result yesterday. 

Commenting on the victory Mr Serwotka said: “This is a fantastic win, only made possible by the sheer determination of our members at BEIS.

“Taking on a contractor who had the backing of a government department was incredibly brave and these members have shown that where you stick together, you can win.

“We never take strike action lightly but this dispute shows that when there is no alternative, sustained strike action can win.”