Action: protesters picket Lovells over 'poverty pay' claims

City law firms are being targeted by the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) over claims that their contracted cleaning staff are paid 'poverty wages', with protesters last week demonstrating outside the offices of Lovells.


A TGWU spokesman told the Gazette: 'Living on the minimum wage in central London is poverty pay. No lawyer would accept that, so why should they?'


The TGWU is focusing on Canary Wharf in particular, and amid the threat of strike action is seeking meetings with several Docklands tenants. It also targeting contractor ISS, which it said is the company least willing to work with the TGWU to address the problems faced by its cleaners.


Lovells and Linklaters are ISS clients, and last week protesters waved placards and handed out leaflets outside Lovells' building on Holborn Viaduct. ISS strongly denies that pay and conditions are insufficient, and rebuffed union claims that it does not provide sick pay.


A Lovells spokeswoman said: 'We work very closely with all the firm's outsourced suppliers to ensure staff are treated fairly and properly remunerated.'


A Linklaters spokeswoman said it was surprised to have been named by the TGWU. 'Linklaters requires above-average levels of quality and service from all our people. This includes our contracted cleaning staff. In return, Linklaters is committed to rewarding all our people with above-average pay and benefits.'


The TGWU also identified Clifford Chance and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as firms that use low-paid contracted cleaners.


Clifford Chance said its night cleaners are paid more than the 'living wage' of £6.70 an hour that the TGWU is calling for.


A Freshfields spokeswoman said: 'We continue to be in close discussion with GBM [its contractor] to investigate and understand the background to the TGWU protests.' The firm said all its contracted cleaning staff are now permanent, indicating an increased level of benefits.