FACILITIES staff at the Department for Education (DfE) have secured back pay amounting up to £2,500 each, the United Voices of the World (UVW) said today.

Cleaners, caterers, receptionists and post room staff won the boost in a deal that averted strikes set to go ahead tomorrow. 

Their contractor ISS has agreed to back pay to November 1 2023 and committed to entering into negotiations with the UVW over terms and conditions including improvements to sick pay and annual leave. 

The concessions came after caterers and post room staff joined cleaners in their second round of strike action at the end of June.

UVW general secretary Petros Elia said: “Facilities workers are often the worst treated in any building, particularly government buildings. And in the DfE they are changing that with the UVW backing them every step of the way. 

“This fight will hopefully inspire all facilities workers in government and beyond to stand up and fight back and we’re putting this new government on notice that it’s time to put an end to the two tier workforce in Whitehall.”