OUTSOURCED Merseyrail cleaners began a 24-hour strike against low pay on Friday.

The RMT members held a picket line outside Rail House in Liverpool from 7.30am in a bid to improve their employer Churchill Services’s offer.

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey said that the company “clearly had the capacity to fund the relatively small additional cost required to maintain the current pay differential sought by members.”

He added: “Churchill must recognise that our members are some of the poorest paid in our industry and need a pay offer that lifts them out of poverty.”

The union noted that Churchill reported a post-tax profit of £15.3 million for the 2025 financial year and distributed dividends of approximately £13.5m.

Churchill’s highest paid director, who is also a significant shareholder, received remuneration of £603,000.

RMT is threatening to escalate its industrial campaign. 

The company was contacted for comment.