News

16 June 2014 - . The average cleaner would have to work over 366 years to earn the same amount as the average CEO of a top bank earns in a year. This is the stark and unacceptable truth being highlighted today on International Justice Day.  International Justice Day is putting the spotlight on low wages and poor work conditions for cleaners and security staff around the world whilst celebrating their major contribution to society.

 

UNI Global Union’s Property Services, which represents millions of cleaners and security workers across the globe, says it is unacceptable that security staff are guarding the wealthy while living in poverty. And it is not right that the average cleaner would have to work for 1381 years to earn the same as the average bank CEO taking into account allowances and bonuses.

 

UNI Global Union General Secretary, Philip Jennings urged, “Everyone of us should support the International Day of Justice for these hardworking and unsung heroes of our communities either by joining in an event or through social media. The penny has finally dropped with some governments and international organisations that inequality is killing recovery. They see that unequal income distribution is a deepening fault line in the global economy. Recognising these facts is not enough; what’s required is action to tip the scales of social justice back in line. Look at the facts on cleaners pay alone: these figures are obscene. Let’s take a stand today and say no more.”

 

All over the world unions are standing up proudly with cleaners and security staff and saying enough is enough. This is a truly global day of action with events slated in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia.

 

Go to International Justice Day For Cleaners and Security Guards - 2014 on Facebook to see events happening near you, including a large gathering at London’s Kings Cross station from 8.00-10.00, organised by UNI affiliate UNITE.

 

Also in the UK, Diane Abbot, the Labour MP for Hackney (one of the poorest boroughs in London) has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons on International Justice Day to raise awareness of this injustice within all our communities.

 

 

The Facts speak for themselves:

 

Average Cleaner

 

Country

Hourly rate (EUR)

Annual Salary (EUR)

United Kingdom

7.71

14032.2

Germany

8.82

16052.4

Australia

13

23660

Spain

5.92

10774.4

Argentina

3.32

6042.4

Brazil

1.61

2930.2

China

1.32

2402.4

Czech Republic

0.59

7480.2

Indonesia

0.58

1055.6

Kenya

0.59

1073.6

Denmark

14.32

26062.4

India

1.53

2784.6

Chile

2.19

3985.8

USA

7.78

14159.6

Tanzania

0.5

910

Belarus

1.73

3148.6

Russia

1.87

3403.4

Ukraine

1.65

3003

Vietnam

1.21

2202.2

Average

4.197894737

7640.168421

 

Source: Wage indicator 2012-2014; IMF World Economic Outlook Database (April 2012)

US Dept. of Labour, Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2013

 

Average CEO

 

Bank

Annual salary (EUR)

Total Amount Received

Credit Suisse

8,200,000

 

Goldman Sachs

1,460,000

16,820,000

HSBC

1,470,000

4,920,000

JPMorgan

1,100,000

14,630,000

Deutsche Bank

2,300,000

7,470,000

Average

2,906,000

10,960,000

 

 

Credit Suisse Source: https://www.credit-suisse.com/governance/en/compensation_exb.jsp

 

Goldman Sachs Source: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303532704579481403058396442

 

HSBC Source: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/24/hsbc-bankers-multimillion-pound-eu-bonus-cap

 

JPMorgan Source: http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/24/jp-morgan-jamie-dimons-salary-billions-fines

 

Deutsche Bank Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-20/deutsche-bank-raises-co-ceo-jain-s-total-compensation-53-.html

 

Richard Elliott
Director of Communications
Mobile: +41 79 794 9709