Rail cleaners working across trains and stations in Kent have voted to go out on strike over pay and conditions.

The cleaners are employed by private contractor Churchill and work across Southeastern, Southern, High Speed 1 and Eurostar services in the county, in addition to Thameslink and Great Northern.

But despite the division of Churchill employing the cleaners making a profit of more than £11million last year, staff are only paid the minimum wage.

They have been left fuming after having to undertake extra tasks during the pandemic to keep up with strict hygiene requirements.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union say the profits could have been gone towards upping the pay for the cleaning staff who have long been campaigning for better rates of pay.

In two of the ballots held by RMT proposing industrial action, two were 100% in favour of action.

RMT’s national executive committee meets today to discuss the next steps.

The RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "Churchill and cleaning employers across the industry need to pay close attention to this result.

“Our members have put their lives on the line throughout the Covid pandemic, they’ve endured low pay and a total lack of respect and they’ve watched their wages being eaten away by the growing cost of living crisis. Now they’ve sent a resounding signal that they’re not taking it any longer.

“Churchill’s cleaning company paid a £12m dividend last year, while many of our members are on £8.91 or £9.50 an hour. Churchill can more than afford to lift pay and conditions on these contracts and our members have shown fantastic collective resolve in smashing the Tory ballot thresholds so the ball is in Churchill’s court.”