Commons cleaners 'treated like dirt'

MPs were today accused of paying "poverty wages" on their own doorstep.

Nearly 200 cleaners who service the Houses of Parliament are to ballot for strike action in a bitter dispute over pay.

They are paid an average of £5 an hour - 15p above the national minimum rate.

They say they cannot afford to live and work in central London on average take-home pay of ?150 for a 40-hour week.

A key part of Labour's election campaign was a pledge to increase the minimum rate to ?5.05 from this October.

The cleaners also want to be treated with "dignity and respect", which they say is not the case at the moment.

They are backed by the Transport and General Workers union, whose spokesman said: "The wages are so low that most are forced to have two or three jobs."

The Commons cleaners want ?6.70p an hour and other improved benefits. They are mostly employed by two contractors. But the T&G says its fight is with the House of Commons authorities "who have forced down the deal to minimum payment".

More than 250 MPs and peers have pledged support for the cleaners.

A House of Commons official said talks were continuing with both the union and the employers.