Merseyrail Cleaners Accept Pay Deal Ending Dispute

Cleaners on the Merseyrail network, employed by Churchill Services, have resolved their dispute after overwhelmingly accepting a new pay offer. The agreement includes a 6% pay rise retroactive to April 2023, an additional 5% from April 2024, improved sick pay, and a rise to a £15 minimum hourly rate by April 2025. RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey emphasized that this victory highlights the determination of the workers, but he criticized the need for strike action to achieve these changes, arguing that cleaners should not be outsourced and should instead be brought back in-house under public ownership. The union warned that while this deal is a significant step forward, the underlying issue of outsourcing remains. Dempsey reiterated that public transport should prioritize public interest over private profit. Churchill Services has not commented on the resolution.