United Voices of the World’s high 10 wins in first 10 years

A gaggle of cleaners from Latin America met in London’s espresso retailers 10 years in the past and from there, a motion was born. Roll ahead ten years and it’s a grassroots commerce union supporting over 10,000 members from over 100 nations. 

From humble beginnings, ten years is a milestone for United Voices of the World (UVW) which focuses on supporting low-paid, migrant and precarious employees.

Via over 53 campaigns, the union has gained tens of thousands and thousands of kilos in improved pay and giving a voice to the UK’s usually invisible military of low paid employees. Listed here are ten of the union’s high achievements over the last decade.

1. Largest cleaners strike in UK history at the time

A primary of its sort, outsourced cleaners on the London Faculty of Economics, all of whom have been BAME and primarily migrant, demanded to be made direct workers of the college. The employees grew to become the primary to pressure a British college to finish the observe of outsourcing after staging what was the most important cleaners strike in UK historical past.  

2. Longest strike in the history of the City of London

UVW members launched into the longest strike within the historical past of the Metropolis of London as cleaners at a 10-storey constructing at 100 Wooden Avenue – leased to the likes of JP Morgan Chase and Schroders – fought towards 50% job cuts and poor pay. After 61 days and a shock flashmob within the foyer, all workers had their pay raised to the London Residing Wage.

3. Sotheby’s

The Sotheby’s marketing campaign was the unions first to win full sick pay for personal sector outsourced employees, and one of many first wins for any union amongst this body of workers. After a number of weeks of demonstrations and protest in Mayfair, and an Early Day Motion towards the low-pay employer signed by over 40 MPs, all outsourced employees on the positive artwork big gained London Residing Wage and contractual sick pay. 

4. Strike ending NHS outsourcing at London Hospital

A groundbreaking marketing campaign noticed 100 cleaners, caterers and porters working for Imperial School Healthcare NHS Belief and outsourced to French multinational Sodexo, be introduced in home. The BAME and migrant employees demanded to develop into direct workers of the NHS – and gained. 

5. Great Ormond Street Hospital

In a second marketing campaign towards outsourcing within the NHS, employees at GOSH demanded an finish to the segregation of workers primarily based on contract. Within the phrases of GOSH cleaner Alpha Anne: “All we’re asking for is equality with the remainder of the NHS workers. We’re bored with being handled like second class employees.”

6. Royal Parks legal battle

The union gained its first authorized declare, in a dispute with the Royal Parks arguing that outsourcing is illegal beneath race discrimination. Park cleaners outsourced to French agency VINCI, on £8.21 per hour, voted for strike motion, finally profitable a 31% pay rise. Since then, members filed a landmark authorized problem, with the case being heard within the Court docket of Attraction in February. 

7. Biggest tip win for workers ever

In a scandalous case of tip theft, the distinguished division retailer Harrods had been taking as much as 75% of the service cost for itself. So cooks and waiters joined UVW and led mass demonstrations, inflicting an enormous stir in Knightsbridge, lastly main the rich retailer to present 100% of the service cost to its workers. Profitable every employee round £5000 per 12 months. 

8. Campaign with highest police presence at a UVW picket line

Cleaners at Topshop have been outsourced on poverty wages and the worst phrases and situations legally attainable. They’d had sufficient and led protests calling out Topshop’s hypocrisies. The Topshop2, Susan and Carolina, have been suspended for commerce union exercise finally profitable compensation of as much as £75k. Their demonstrations with pink smoke, placards and MPs prompted an enormous scene on the streets of London.

9. Huge wage rise for care workers

Care employees, cleaners and upkeep employees at Sage Nursing Residence in North London walked out demanding a £12 an hour rise and the identical degree of sick pay and annual go away as NHS employees. They gained a minimal 11% pay rise, and 5% for all different workers, a welcome victory after working via the Covid-19 pandemic on poor pay.

10. 2023 saw the union co-ordinated 8 simultaneous strikes

Final 12 months the union carried out the biggest variety of coordinated strikes it had ever completed. Cleaners, carers and concierge from 9 completely different workplaces walked out collectively for higher pay, situations and respect at work. 

“An important factor is to be united. Should you don’t struggle you’ll by no means have something. So let’s struggle however let’s struggle collectively,” stated Julia Veros Gonzales, carer and UVW member.

Commenting on the previous decade, UVW’s Common Secretary Petros Elia stated to LFF:  “Our 10 12 months anniversary is a milestone we’re extremely pleased with, and that we’ve reached towards the chances. 

“Whereas we have now among the greatest organisers round and an unbelievable group hub, we’ll always remember our humble beginnings which noticed a number of volunteers work from avenue corners and cafes for the primary three years. 

“Our mission then is similar as our mission right this moment; to assist the bottom paid, most precarious and primarily migrant employees to face up and struggle again and we’ll by no means waver from it.”

Hannah Davenport is information reporter at Left Foot Ahead, specializing in commerce unions and environmental points

The publish United Voices of the World’s top 10 wins in first 10 years appeared first on Left Foot Forward: Leading the UK's progressive debate.