Atalian Servest cleaners and the West Coast Mainline

That this House supports cleaners employed by Atalian Servest who are members of the RMT union and taking industrial action in support of better pay, sick pay and travel facilities; notes that these cleaners, who clean trains and stations on the West Coast Mainline, have worked throughout the pandemic at great personal risk, to ensure that rail travel is safe and to help keep essential services running; further notes that passenger surveys consistently stress the importance of cleanliness in restoring confidence in public transport, making clear that cleaning is an essential service; is concerned to learn that Atalian Servest’s cleaners are only paid £9.68 per hour and that none receives company sick pay; is deeply disappointed that, in spite of the strength of feeling among these keyworkers, Atalian Servest have failed to make a satisfactory pay offer to these cleaners, while paying a £10.8 million dividend to their French parent company; and calls on Atalian to meet the cleaners’ claims and for the client, Avanti West Coast, which itself recently declared a dividend of £11.5 million to its owners, to help facilitate a settlement that will give cleaners the respect and dignity they deserve.