Eurostar cleaners to strike

Workers who clean Eurostar trains are to stage a series of fresh strikes in a row over jobs and the introduction of staff fingerprinting, it was announced today.

The Rail Maritime and Transport union said its members working for the Carlisle Group will strike for 24 hours on October 2, 4, 16, 18 and 30 and November 1.

General secretary Bob Crow said today: "The treatment of cleaners on the Eurostar, our flagship European rail service, is nothing short of a national disgrace.

"We have demanded that the Government, as the effective owners of Eurostar, step in to stop this scandalous exploitation of cleaners at St Pancras International who are fighting for nothing more than the London Living Wage, dignity and respect at work and the right to organise an effective trade union."

Eurostar said services will not be affected by the strikes.