OUTSOURCED workers at a government department began an indefinite strike for pay justice today.

The cleaners and caterers at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who are employed by the ISS and Aramark employment agencies, are demanding the London Living Wage of £10.55 per hour.

Their strike will also be joined by porters, security guards and postroom staff for five days, starting next Monday.

The workers have been campaigning for a pay rise for over nine months and took part in industrial action earlier in the year.

Civil Service union PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Contracted-out staff in BEIS have led a courageous campaign to win pay justice from unscrupulous and greedy contractors.

“For them to have no other choice but to take indefinite strike action is a testament to their dogged determination to win.

“PCS is supporting them all the way in their fight for the London Living Wage and I call upon the entire trade union movement to get behind our members.

“I urge BEIS to take control of this situation, put pressure on the contractors to pay up and ultimately bring all of these staff back in-house.”

In a separate dispute, cleaners employed by ISS at HMRC Bootle in Merseyside went on strike for the first time today.

The two-day action is in pursuit of a living wage and better working conditions.

Mr Serwotka said: “ISS cleaners in HMRC Bootle have the union’s full support in their fight. PCS is committed to fighting the scourge of outsourcing wherever it rears its ugly head. Our members deserve to be paid a decent wage for the important work they do.”

Aramark, ISS and BEIS have not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.