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Cleaners at £24,000-a-year private school halt strike after pay deal
General view of James Allen's Girls' School, in south east London

OUTSOURCED migrant cleaners at a £24,000-a-year private school in London have called off strikes after reaching a deal with bosses.

Cleaners employed by DB Services at James Allen’s Girls’ School had voted to strike after their pay was slashed by 12 per cent to £11.55 an hour. 

They commenced legal proceedings after being informed that changes to their contracts would take effect without consultation, their union United Voices of the World (UVW) said.

The new deal reverses and back-dates all pay cuts, introduces full sick pay and gives up to five weeks’ compensation for cleaners who had hours cut.

They have been guaranteed annual pay increases and, from April, will be paid the London Living Wage.

Cleaner Rosa Garces Chinche said: “I am very happy with what we won today, we achieved a lot, especially considering for many of us it was the first time we were in a union. 

“I think it important that migrant cleaners everywhere know that we have power in our hands, and we need to unite and build unions in order to have respect at work and win big wins.

“Always remember: La union hace la fuerza!” (Unity makes strength).

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