NI civil service cleaning staff face cuts, union warns
Cleaning staff at civil service sites are facing reduced hours or redundancies under cost-saving proposals, a trade union has warned.Contractor Aramark has proposed cutting 1535 cleaning hours per week across 162 sites, according to NIPSA official Ryan Wilson.The firm said it is "committed to providing our clients with the best possible solutions for their business needs".The Department of Finance (DoF), which oversees outsourced services, said decisions in relation to the workforce "are taken by the contractor".
'Fewer staff asked to do more'
The plans could see "fewer staff being asked to do more work while robots and automation are brought in to replace them", Mr Wilson told BBC's Nolan Show.At one site, the Department of Health's Castle Buildings headquarters, there is a proposal to reduce cleaning hours by up to 60%, as first reported by the Newsletter."They currently have 300 hours cleaning per week, the proposal on the table is to slash that by 175 hours…to replace some of that work, they're proposing two robot cleaners to be introduced," Mr Wilson said."How can anybody expect the same level of cleanliness, the same hygiene standards, when over half the hours are gone and the work is supplemented by machines instead of human workers? That's just one example."If this was [about] efficiency we would be talking about improving standards, not about slashing over 1500 cleaning hours a week."Aramark has entered into consultation with NIPSA and GMB trade unions and has shared documentation on their proposal to cut hours across the 162 sites.Mr Wilson said "it has been made clear" that Aramark want to make "changes" before the contract is due to start on 1 April.
'Advancements in technology'
Aramark said it is committed to providing its clients "with the best possible solutions for their business needs"."As we see various advances in technologies and AI, our cleaning services can in some cases incorporate co-botics and various other innovative solutions," a spokesperson said."These technologies work alongside our team, not in isolation, to create more efficient ways of working while also offering enhanced environmental benefits."However, similar to other industries, these advancements in technology may impact the way in which our teams have traditionally worked."The firm said it has been "open and transparent" with all stakeholders, adding they have "proactively reached out to relevant unions" and are currently working "to communicate closely with our colleagues via a comprehensive consultation process".A DoF spokesperson said the department "facilitates the procurement of a range of outsourced services". "The NICS cleaning contract must meet a specified standard in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract which includes payment of the real Living Wage," the spokesperson said."Decisions in relation to the workforce are taken by the contractor."The spokesperson added that the department will "continue to engage" with "trade unions and the contractor" on these matters.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Parents urged to claim £2,000 tax-free top-up to help with summer childcare costs
HMRC tax-free scheme can help parents pay for childcare costs over the school holidays. How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare Nearly 826,000 working families saved up to £2,000 per child with Tax-Free Childcare in the 2024 to 2025 tax year. The money helps families pay for their childcare, as part of the UK Government's Plan for Change to put more money in people's pockets. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging those yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare, to do it now and give their summer plans a financial boost. Latest figures from HMRC show in March 2025, 579,560 families in the UK used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills, an increase of 81,770 families compared to the previous March. Working families who sign up to Tax-Free Childcare can boost their annual budget by up to £2,000 per child up to the age of 11 or up to £4,000 up to the age of 16 for a disabled child. Parents can use the scheme to help towards the cost of approved childcare whether that's nursery for younger children, or for older children - wraparound or after school care clubs during term time or holiday clubs for the long summer holidays ahead. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said: 'Summer can be an expensive time if you have children. Whatever you're planning, Tax-Free Childcare can give your plans a welcome financial boost. Go to to start saving today.' For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government tops it by £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months towards paying for their childcare costs. Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. HMRC said it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they: Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on here. Financial support for parents in Scotland Social Security Scotland delivers five family payments which can help pay for extra school term expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out. Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.20 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and is also paid every four weeks, amounting to £104.20. The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children's early years, including during pregnancy. There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments. One-off payments for families Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - one-off payment of up to £767.50 available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns 6 months. Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two, and three years and six months. Best Start Grant School Age Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of starting school available between June 1 and the last day in February in the year when a child is first old enough to start primary one. Best Start Foods - up to £43.20 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food, milk and first infant formula. Scottish Child Payment Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family and is a weekly payment of £27.15 that you can get for every child you look after who is under the age of 16. Payments are made every four weeks and worth £108.60 per child. Parents, carers and guardians can get more information on the dedicated Children and Family section on here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. Families can learn more about the childcare offers available to them and what could fit their family by visiting Childcare Choices on here. Families in Scotland may be able to access help during the ongoing cost of living crisis through the Cost of Living Support Scotland website here.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Topshop confirms it'll open STORES as website to launch later this year
IN a sea of closures and retail struggle, Topshop is bucking the trend and opening stores this year. The brand aims to relaunch Topshop and Topman for its loyal millennial fans and newcomers, both online and brick-and-mortar. 2 Topshop was a high street staple, with a flagship store on Oxford Street, London Credit: Alamy In 2021, Topshop and Miss Selfridge were purchased by Asos, following the collapse of former owner Arcadia. They were sold for a combined price of £330million. But in September last year, Asos sold a 75 percent stake in Topshop and Topman for around £135million to Danish holding company Heartland. At the time of the deal, Asos planned on relaunching and by August this year. Michelle Wilson, MD at Topshop and Topman, told Drapers that the brand has something up its sleeve for August. But that's just the beginning - Topshop and Topman will return to the high street for autumn via a wholesale partner. 'We have something planned in August to bring Topshop back into real life again, with a more semi-permanent presence than the one-day pop-up,' she said. 'In the shorter term that will be something with partner support and in the longer term we will do something standalone." Wilson said she was "excited to see Topshop back in person" and said their collaboration "will surprise people". In April this year, Topshop launched a pop-up at Defected Records and shoppers went wild for it. Pull&Bear Opens New Flagship Store at Silverburn: Fashion Fans Celebrate in Glasgow! They recorded a sale every three minutes, which Topshop bosses have said is proof that there is demand for the adored store. Wilson added that they aren't trying to "recreate" the Topshop that millions knew and loved. She explained that the clothing store will be given a 2025 makeover to allow it to compete with the current climate. Wilson hinted that the shop will offer experiences, much like its industry-leading Oxford Street flagship store. The once-thriving London branch offered nail bars and piercing parlours. Topshop and Topman bosses also revealed that it is "not going after a specific age demographic." However, for the now thirty-somethings whose wardrobes were packed full of Topshop garms in the early 2000s, there's more good news. Traditional favourites like the Jamie and Joni jeans will be here to stay, as well as the new Asos-era bestsellers like the wide-leg Cinch jean. Wilson teased shoppers and said that they should expect Topshop's more casual side, as well as the formal "going out" pieces. In April, Asos CEO José Antonio Ramos Calamonte, announced the return of He said: "The first step of this comeback is This will be a standalone website, which will exclusively sell the legendary brand's clothing and is expected to launch in the second half of the year. Topshop was founded in 1964 youth-focused offshoot of the department store Peter Robinson. It became a leader in trend-driven fashion and was a staple on the high street. Topshop was known for offering affordable, yet stylish, clothing that closely mirrored runway trends. However, the retail landscape began to shift in the 2010s, with growing competition from online retailers and changing consumer habits. The Sun has approached Topshop for comment.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Sickening discovery at Yosemite's most iconic hotel throws summer trips into chaos
Yosemite's most iconic hotel, known for its scenic views and high-profile guests, has been thrown into a chaotic scandal after several sickening and 'decrepit' discoveries were made. California 's Ahwahnee Hotel has long been known as a destination hot spot in the Yosemite Valley, and an oasis in the middle of a beautiful nature-filled setting - but its reputation has changed. A recent report by the National Park Service, detailing the hotel's 2024 annual performance review of Yosemite Hospitality, found that rodents, improper food storage, and overdue facility maintenance, have taken over the property. Yosemite Hospitality, a subsidiary of the Aramark Corporation, received an 'unsatisfactory' rating - the lowest it has gotten in previous years, the report, obtained by SFGATE, detailed. Officials found both food safety issues and rodent infestations in the hotel's bar and kitchen, and just last month, employees reported food contamination issues stemming from rodents living in the ceiling above the preparation area, per the report. Rodents were also found lingering in the Ahwahnee Bar, which was shut down multiple times last year for that very reason, the report stated. A number of staffers also got sick from the chemicals used to help control the pest problem at the bar, it continued. By June 14, the bar was back up and running, but just six weeks later, health inspectors discovered a Food and Drug Administration violation caused by a leak in the kitchen in the Ahwahnee Bar. The kitchen was then shut down by Yosemite Hospitality for some of the day to fix the pressing issue, according to the performance review. On September 4, the bar was closed yet again after a video surfaced showing 'ongoing rodent activity within the facility,' the review documented. By September 20, the bar was reopened for drink service only. Food was not served again until November 14, per the report. Rodent infestations can bring on a serious and sometimes deadly disease known as hantavirus - the same illness that killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa in their New Mexico home earlier this year. Humans can be exposed to the disease through rodent droppings, urine or saliva. In 2012 - before Yosemite Hospitality took over the contract - hantavirus infected 10 people and tragically killed three, SFGATE reported. Just last year, a store worker, who lived in on-site employee housing, was said to have contracted the disease, according to Bloomberg. The report said Yosemite Hospitality has gone on to develop a 'hantavirus risk reduction program,' but even with the initiative, employees were not consistently trained. For instance, workers at the Crane Flat Store - located on the property - did not receive the training until health officials visited the store during a routine safety inspection, the report said. In response to the frequent rodent incidents, the hospitality company hired new pest management professionals and doubled the number of weekly visits to inspect properties in the park in October 2024, the annual report stated. Several Yelp reviews also provide first-hand accounts from guests who dealt with similar situations during their stay there. One person posted images of cracked and peeling ceilings and walls, adding that the 'hotel is inferior to the $10 youth hostels one may find in Europe. 'What a sad, decrepit facility this once great hotel has become... It's full of mold, leaks, broken walls and failed or failing appliances,' the user added. 'I really wanted to give this place a higher rating because of the long history etc of the Ahwahnee. But for over $600 a night you should get more. I think the overall problem is the result of decades of neglect,' another posted. Other than rodent activity and deteriorating aspects in the hotel, Michael McEvoy, a recent guest who stayed there, said the hotel did not have electricity after a tree fell during a storm, cutting off power in the Yosemite Valley. 'The whole place was dark,' McEvoy told the outlet. He had checked into the hotel to attend the Bracebridge Dinner, but when he entered his room, the light switches didn't work. 'I don't know how you put on a tux without light,' he added. The highly anticipated dinner, which had just come back after a five year hiatus, was canceled due to the power outage. McEvoy said a backup generator ended up powering a temporary kitchen but not the hotel itself. During that time, he said he witnessed several people falling in the dark and an elderly woman struggling to navigate the stairs since the elevator was down. The recent report flagged electrical issues throughout the park, including an employee tent that went up in flames and loose electrical wires on a thermostat in a hotel room. Despite shelling out $1,100 for the dinner, plus $700 for the hotel room, McEvoy left and booked a room somewhere else, he said. 'We're looking forward to seeing it, and then to find all of the catastrophic, the cascade failures that occurred really pointed out to me that they've got a problem.' Customers were reimbursed for both their tickets and hotel stays, Aramark spokesperson Weinstein told the outlet. In response to the low rating, Debbie Albert, Aramark's senior vice president of corporate affairs, said the company is taking it 'seriously.' 'We take this rating seriously, and in working closely with the NPS, we have and continue to make improvements at Yosemite to ensure high standards are met for park guests,' Albert said. A park spokesperson said: 'We work closely with our concessionaires to identify and address issues, and we expect them to take prompt action to resolve any problems.' Despite their responses, hotel and park employees still don't feel safe or heard. 'At what point do you say, "This isn't right for the guests?" Someone could get sick. This isn't right,' an unnamed worker said. 'There has to be a limit where profit doesn't matter. Humanity matters more.'
