At the London Labour Party conference in Haringey today (2 March), the campaigns officer of Hornsey and Wood Green Young Labour, Clarion supporter Raquel Palmeira (pictured), challenged Sadiq Khan over his treatment of Transport for London’s cleaners. After a discussion of anti-racism and the diversity of London’s communities, Raquel asked the mayor:
“This question is also about London’s diverse communities – one big migrant workforce is one you are responsible for, the cleaners in TfL. Why don’t you bring them in house, pay them properly, and give them a travel pass like other TfL workers?”
Khan’s reply was evasive, saying that insourcing was being considered but that it would be slow and difficult because they couldn’t break the contracts – this after he himself has already renewed them! He also said, absurdly, that they have given cleaners passes for when they have to clean more than one station (!)
RMT members lobbied the conference over this and other issues of TfL workers’ rights and cuts to services this morning, and TSSA and Unite has submitted an emergency motion. (A motion promoted by The Clarion and submitted by Hackney South and Shoreditch CLP was not in a prioritised zone.)
• Raquel will be chairing a London Labour fringe meeting co-sponsored by The Clarion with the Labour Campaign for Free Movement and Lewisham Deptford and Bethnal Green and Bow CLPs, on Labour councils, ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ policies and the Hostile Environment for migrants – 5.30pm, Saturday 2 March, West Indian Cultural Centre, Clarendon Road, N8 0DJ. Facebook event here
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