CLEANERS “treated like rats” at the Department for Education are set to strike if they fail to win the London living wage, the United Voices of the World (UVW) union said today.

The cleaners, who work at the department’s Sanctuary Buildings, say that staff cuts have left them exhausted and that they are struggling to make ends meet amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Along with a living wage and more staff, they are demanding the same entitlement to sick pay and annual leave as the civil servants they clean up after. 

The workers have given their bosses at ISS UK until January 8 to reply, before beginning a ballot for industrial action. 

Cleaner Kadijatu Jallou said: “They don’t treat us cleaners like human beings. They treat us like rats. 

“Since this complaint was made, no-one came to address us. 

“They just sent a pamphlet with the terms and conditions.” 

UVW general secretary Petros Elia said: “Our members have decades and decades of cumulative experience cleaning Sanctuary Buildings. 

“They know every inch of the building inside out and can do every aspect of the job blindfolded.”

Mr Elia said ISS should “allow them to do their jobs with reasonable levels of staffing so they can maintain the high standard of cleanliness and safety they have consistently delivered in their roles over many years.

“Reasonable entitlement to sick leave removes the psychological pressure and precarity that falling ill can cause workers,” he added, “particularly when they have families to provide for, as all our members have.”

The Government Property Agency has been contacted for comment.