PCS members are seeking a living wage of £10 an hour, harmonisation of terms and conditions with HMRC workers and a reversal of unilateral changes made to staff pay intervals. The two days of strike action took place 15-16 July with action short of strike started on 17 July; ISS have so far failed to respond to the union’s demands.

Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Bootle MP Peter Dowd said: “Labour in government will put an end to outsourcing and exploitation of workers like those involved in this dispute in Bootle, they have my full support in this fight”

Bill Esterson, Labour’s Shadow Business Minister and MP for Sefton Central speaking at a rally on Monday outside The Triad attended by members of the public, local cllrs and HMRC workers reiterated Labour’s pledge on outsourcing and said: “the scandal of exploitation of low paid workers in government departments must end. A real living wage is the least that hard working cleaners in HMRC offices should be paid.”

PCS NW Regional Secretary, Claire Jones said: It is an absolute disgrace how ISS have treated our members. Cleaners do a vital job keeping HMRC in Liverpool and Bootle functioning. Yet they are not paid a decent wage or treated properly at work.

ISS has form when it comes to not running government contracts properly as we have seen in BEIS where our members have been on strike.

This is why all contracted out workers must be brought back in house, paid civil service wages and given civil service terms and conditions.”