Their work starts before sunrise when the classrooms are still empty. Whilst universities teach about values and rights these workers come and go unseen shrouded under a cloak of invisibility born of the stigma businesses and institutions attribute to the word ‘cleaners’ who for their part are generally exploited and discriminated against. (The Prisma memoirs)
Virginia Moreno Molina
Consuelo Moreno, one of the leaders of Justice for Cleaners at SOAS, Robinson Baldeón known as “El comandante” (‘The commander’) and one of the leaders of Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) at Senate House, and Absalón Sanclemente belonging to Birkbeck union are the protagonists in three stories which show the job of cleaner in its true light and reflect the reality for thousands of Latin Americans cleaners confronting day to day life in these university institutions. These testimonials have been brought together in a documentary entitled Limpiadores (‘Cleaners’) by Cuban film director Fernando Luis González Mitjans.
‘The documentary started with the idea of criticising higher education and ended up criticising the practice of subcontracting’ explains González who adds ‘this is a neo-liberal practice whereby the lives of people are placed under the control of businesses and capitalist and economic interests.’
Whilst these people have been successful in their struggles to achieve better working conditions, universities and businesses continue to fail to address the real problem: subcontracting.
Fernando González spoke with The Prisma about this form of worker ‘exploitation’, their labour rights, the discrimination practised against them (in this job in particular) and other aspects of cleaners’ working conditions in the UK.
Why did you choose the cleaning industry?
The idea was to focus on jobs in higher education establishments wherein 80% of Latin American workers are cleaners though a percentage do work in catering or security.
I decided to focus on cleaners because of the visual impact seeing as they move about a lot around the university and rub shoulders with other workers and students.
Often people are scared to tell their story: was this the case with this documentary?
Yes, many did not want to participate. The film is centred on three very decent honest individuals and it was a stroke of luck to find them because it is a particularly sensitive area: an issue people don’t like to talk about for fear of losing their jobs but also because they are embarrassed about doing the job in the first place.
The cleaning industry is controlled by intermediary businesses….
This is the phenomenon known as subcontracting or outsourcing: a very exploitative practice.
The initial idea was to criticise higher education but it ended up as a criticism of the practice of subcontracting where huge businesses contract people in various industries. Some of them are multi-nationals and they contract workers at low prices on the minimum salary. They sign zero hour contracts and get no form of benefits which they believe exist (they do, but just not for them!) in the UK. And as a result of this practice they become second class citizens.
How can this situation exist in universities?
This is a result of the neo-liberalisation of higher education in the UK. Subcontracting is a capitalist practice which seeks to increase profits whilst reducing practical problems, procedural costs and administration as well as the money spent on the worker. It is a practice where people’s lives are subject to the control of businesses and capitalist and economic interests.
From the point of view of the universities they don’t feel the slightest responsibility for these workers because when it comes down to it they are contracted by another business. At the same time, this other business feels little responsibility as the ‘contractee’ does not work in their business but somewhere else.
And there comes a point where these workers become almost invisible pawns in the scenario: they come to work at four in the morning and leave at nine and are seen by no one. Impersonal administrative procedures are the management tool of choice rather than face to face dialogue. For this reason, of all the victories to date, the most important has been achieving a level of representation where they are recognised as groups of people who seek dialogue and want to be heard.
Did you speak to university representatives?
No, but they were aware of the documentary as I asked permission to make it. But I didn’t consider putting those people in the film, firstly because there was no way they would have given me and interview, and secondly because there were many other voices that had to be heard.
And the businesses?
At the time the documentary was being considered I had dealings with them. I got to interview a Colombian supervisor from the main subcontracting business ISS.
I thought it interesting that all the supervisors were Colombian: a strategy employed by the businesses in order to exercise control over the workers.
The supervisor in question said things like: “Our own nationals don’t come to get an education but to have it easy here. Us Latin Americans are hard to manage.’ But at the same time he is ambivalent because he feels Latin American and supports the campaign for workers’ rights since he also benefits from it. However, in the end he was worried about the interview and this was one of the reasons it did not appear in the documentary.
Do the students show solidarity for the cause?
Yes, in SOAS in particular they are very supportive. A good job was done in raising awareness there. The students join in but there is an important proviso I would like to stress: all the Latin American students take the same line in being absolutely indifferent to the issue. Indeed, some of these students are put out by being associated with the workers. It frustrated me because I would like to have explored this issue in more depth but couldn’t.
Are Latin Americans an easy target?
They are an easy target because of their difficulties with English but there are Asian and Indian people who have the same problem. Many people criticise me and say ‘the problem goes way back : the Indians were in the UK ten years ago, the West Indians twenty years ago and thirty years ago…’ as if it was normal and these first generations of immigrants who don’t speak English well had to endure poor working conditions.
What is your vision for the UK?
All Latin Americans come with a false idea of Europe: an idea constructed by the elite in Latin America who portray Europe as a model for us to emulate.
I also came with this idea. That is why part of the work is to expose this other side of the UK which our media in Latin America does not care to reveal.
What is your impression of Jeremy Corbyn?
Traditionally, the UK had a very strong socialist Left: it was responsible for the creation of the welfare state, social security, benefits etc. Then there was the new Left movement, more of the centre, with Tony Blair. But this was no more than progressive rhetoric which acted according to economic interests which were rather conservative.
Jeremy Corbyn lived through both of these stages as an ardent activist of the Left. And now he finds himself at the helm! He is strong enough to stick to traditional and genuine values of the Left but at the same time understands the importance of giving in and compromising on some things.
He also has a deep understanding of what is going on in Latin America. He supports Latin American governments of the Left without being a radically socialist and is capable of dialogue and this I like. (The Prisma Memoirs. 2017)
(Translated by Nigel Conibear – DipTrans IoLET ACIL – nigelconibear@gmail.com)
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