London, UK — Cleaning staff at University College London (UCL) went on strike on October 23 following the university’s September announcement of a review on soft services provided by its contractor, Sodexo.
Cleaners formed a picket line outside university buildings from 4 a.m. before gathering again at midday for a solidarity protest, where they were joined by students and university staff demanding that UCL reconsider its proposed changes. The demonstration featured solidarity speeches from both workers and students.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), the trade union that organised Thursday’s strike, said that UCL’s proposed changes would cut 195 full-time cleaning roles, affecting predominantly Black and Latin American migrant women.
UCL’s statement, published on September 11, outlined its plans to restructure the cleaning and waste management team to include “more staff on permanent contracts and reduce the number of casual workers and staff on fixed term agreements.”
Although the university acknowledged the likelihood of staff redundancies following the proposed changes, it also explained that the measures are part of UCL’s “strategic goals” to meet recycling targets set out in its Sustainability Strategy, comply with new legislation, and manage its financial resources responsibly.
Trade union calls
If changes are implemented, the IWGB has said that they would affect over 100 individuals and significantly reduce cleaning services across UCL residences.
UCL, however, has stated that the “expected benefits of the new model will be the increased flexibility and efficiency of the team,” in response to concerns that the proposal will lead to an increased workload for the cleaning and waste management team. According to UCL, the new model would allow more time for staff to manage their workload.
A cleaner affected by the proposed changes at UCL, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, told the organization about the emotional impact of this strategy on the cleaning community at UCL, according to a IWGB press release.
“I’ve already seen colleagues in tears due to being overworked – there’s no way we can handle any more. The cuts will also make conditions unbearable for students. Rubbish already piles up, dust gathers for days, and flats are full of mould. Halving the cleaning staff will only make things worse,” she said.
Thursday’s strike marked the second round of the cleaners’ action against UCL and Sodexo’s changes, following earlier strikes held from September 29 to October 1.
Sodexo, a global company that provides food services and facilities management, has been contracted as UCL’s preferred supplier of soft services since 2018, an arrangement which outsources cleaners at UCL rather than employing them directly.
“We call on UCL to scrap these cuts and bring cleaners in-house immediately. Students, staff and the wider community must stand together to hold UCL to a higher standard,” said Farah Uddin, IWGB Universities of London Branch Chair.
Her message, and particularly the focus on establishing cleaners as in-house UCL employees, was echoed by demonstrators at the cleaners’ strike and solidarity protest on Thursday.
UCL responded by stating that they “are working closely with Sodexo and their recognised trade union UNISON to minimise the impact of these changes on staff.”
A broader pattern: migrant labour in UK universities
The demonstrations at UCL reflect a wider pattern across universities in Britain, where outsourcing has shaped the working conditions of thousands of migrant workers- who are predominantly from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
The IWBG and the Justice for Cleaners campaign have long criticised the outsourcing of soft services such as cleaning, waste management and porterage, arguing that it creates a two-tier workforce.
While many university employees are directly hired on secure contracts, outsourced workers are often placed on short-term or zero-hour contracts with limited access to sick pay, holiday and pensions.
Dr. Julie Hearn, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University, and journalist Monica Bergos have written about the racial and social inequalities this system reinforces. They note that Latin American migrant workers are often “invisibilised” due to early shift patterns which isolate them from the wider university community.
“Arguably, central to why the Latin American community suffers from ‘invisibility’ or marginalisation is because its workers are literally unseen, cleaning banks, universities and hospitals while the city sleeps,” they wrote.
Intimidation and workplace insecurity
Campaigners have also questioned the varying legal statuses of migrant workers, arguing that it has at times been used to discourage individuals from organising.
The phenomenon became evident as early as 2009, when contracted cleaners were called to an “emergency staff meeting” by their employer, International Service System (ISS), at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). The meeting was abruptly raided by UK immigration officers, resulting in the detention and deportation of six migrant cleaners to South American countries.
The raid sparked widespread criticism and marked a turning point for migrant workers, exposing the vulnerabilities faced by outsourced staff and prompting broader union and student organising across London universities.
The incident also revealed to the general public how employment structures can distance education institutions from direct responsibility for their workers, leaving migrant employees particularly vulnerable.
Migrant workers across UK universities have continued campaigning for better working conditions. The Justice for Cleaners movement achieved major victories at SOAS, securing the London Living Wage and winning sick pay in 2008, and holiday pay and pensions in 2014. By 2018, all cleaning staff at SOAS were brought in-house.
Similar campaigns at King’s College London and the London School of Economics also led to the end of cleaning outsourcing, with all staff transferred to direct university employment.
Recent demonstrations at UCL, however, indicate that many migrant workers remain outsourced and face continued uncertainty.
Studies suggest that even in-house cleaning staff can experience feelings of marginalisation and limited inclusion within university communities, pointing to a deeper pattern of workplace inequality that extends beyond employment status and continues to shape the experiences of migrant workers in UK higher education institutions.
Featured image: Courtesy of IWGB Union
