GMB Scotland brand Mitie 'Christmas Scrooge'
GMB Scotland Trade Union is comparing the hugely profitable private company Mitie – who employ cleaners and janitors in five of South Ayrshire Council’s Schools – as a modern day Christmas Scrooge.
Despite wide spread criticism from politicians and the GMB Trade Union, Mitie is still refusing to pay the Living Wage which has been in place with all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities for several years.
Mitie employs cleaners and janitors in five of South Ayrshire Council’s schools: - Barassie Primary, Monkton Primary, Prestwick Academy, Belmont Academy and Alloway Primary is paying their cleaning staff approximately £1 an hour less than a cleaner who is employed directly with the council.
The GMB Trade Union has continually campaigned for this cash rich organisation to start treating their staff with compassion and respect, with the starting point being for staff to get paid the Living Wage.
Paul Arkison of the GMB Trade Union voiced his concerns about this issue, “Despite criticism from all political parties Mitie has completely refused to pay the Living Wage, instead compelling their staff to poverty levels of pay. “In some cases the levels of pay are so low that many of our Members claim state benefits to supplement their income. “This means that the already hard pressed tax payer is adding to Mitie’s vast profits. “If Mitie paid the Living Wage to its lowest paid staff then this would boost the living standards of many families in South Ayrshire”.
GMB Trade Union is comparing the massive profits Mitie make in comparison to the poverty levels of pay received by its Members.
Mitie has listed from its own website an operating profit of £128.6m (Source: Mitie Group plc, Annual Report and Accounts, 2015)
Paul Arkison of GMB Scotland went on to say, “All these figures are mind boggling when the reality is a GMB Cleaner and Janitor is getting paid less than £7 per hour for working in some of South Ayrshire Council’s most modern schools.
“It is time for politicians to actually become more directly involved and instruct Mitie to start paying the Living Wage, and inform this company their position and attitude is completely unacceptable and socially irresponsible in a modern workplace. “However, congratulations to Mitie as being the winners of the GMB’s Christmas Scrooge competition for 2015”.
Mitie were not avalible for comment.