People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has congratulated the Sodexo workers at Erskine House, who have won all of their demands after eight months of campaigning and more than 50 days of strike action.
“This is a huge victory for the receptionists, cleaners, porters and kitchen workers at Erskine House. Their hours will be restored immediately, they will be back paid for every hour lost and there will be no changes to their job roles. They won everything they fought for.
“Sodexo, a multinational that made over £1 billion in profit last year, tried to make low-paid workers pay for its cost-cutting. These workers refused to accept it. They stood together on the picket line for over 50 days, through all the pressure that came with that, and they forced one of the biggest companies in the world to back down.”
“This victory belongs to the workers, and their determination and solidarity. Credit also goes to PCS and the wider trade union movement, and to community activists and members of the public who joined the picket lines, brought donations and showed these workers they were not alone.”
“This sends a clear message to every worker facing cuts to their hours, pay or conditions: you don’t have to accept it. When workers organise and take action, they can win.”
Link to our previous article supporting the strikers at Sodexo.