LEADING unions are demanding an “unscrupulous” cleaning firm rehire staff sacked at the start of the pandemic and give them full backdated pay.

Cleanology, which provides commercial services to luxury stores such as Harrods and Lacoste, dismissed at least seven staff in March and April, despite allegedly being able to retain them as part of the government’s job retention scheme.

Two unions representing the sacked staff, the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) and United Voices of the World, said that Cleanology has now offered to rehire them — but only if they sign a contract saying they were on “unpaid leave.”