CLEANERS AT ST GEORGE'S, TOOTING AND THE LONDON LIVING WAGE

That this House notes that the cleaners employed by Ocean Facilities Services Ltd, under contract with St George's, University of London, are paid below the London living wage; expresses disappointment that St George's, which has a 250-year history that includes fathers of modern surgery, should have cleaners contracted on its premises who are on wages beneath the London poverty line; urges St George's to revise its contract to raise the wages of its cleaners to the rate recommended by the Greater London Authority as the London living wage of 8.30 per hour; expresses concern at reports that the contractor has ignored the requests of the cleaners' union for the London living wage, responding with unwarranted threats to dismiss them, to cut hours and increase workloads; and expects the cleaners to be treated with respect and dignity at work and their trade union be recognised accordingly.