ACROSS the railway, over 1,000 contracted out cleaners will take strike action on Saturday, December 31 in the first national strike of its kind.

Cleaners working for the likes of Atalian Servest, Churchill and Mitie are demanding £15 an hour, company sick pay, decent holidays and good pensions from contractors.

Rail companies who use contracted out cleaning providers such as Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express will be affected by the action.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "This is the first time cleaners have been taken out on strike across the rail network.

"It is a testament to our members fearlessness and determination to see justice done on pay and working conditions.

“These cleaners' strikes are just the beginning of our industrial campaign for the most exploited workers on our railways."

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