Initially there were speakers outlining the dire conditions under which Wharf cleaners have to work; these included the film maker, Ken Loach. The protesters then proceeded around the Canary Wharf area waving banners and banging drums. An alarming feature of the Canary Wharf area (highlighted by the injunction) is that the roads and pavements around the main building are legally private space. Add this to the list of sins that the Canary Wharf group are responsible for.

Back in May, the Transport and General Workers' Union, the cleaners' union, welcomed HSBC and contract cleaner OCS's decision to increase pay and conditions for its cleaners at Canary Wharf. However the T&G warned then that it would be continuing its campaign with The East London Community Organisation (TELCO) urging all companies at Canary Wharf to pay their cleaners a living wage and for union recognition - at present, some cleaners at Canary Wharf are paid as little as £5.20per hour. Today's protest was part of this ongoing campaign and part of the ESF fun as well..

Jack Dromey, T&G Deputy General Secretary said in May "This is a step in the right direction, but make no mistake, the benefits have come about because cleaners at Canary Wharf have begun to organise into an effective union." It is to be hoped that these efforts will be allowed to continue unmolested by the behemoth corporations which occupy the Canary Wharf complex. We should be ready to defend the cleaners' right to unionise at every turn...