United Voices of the World (UVW), which represents government workers, called the protest against a culture of disdain for low-paid workers.

It comes amid mounting fury over Sue Gray's partygate report, which uncovered 'unacceptable treatment' of cleaning and security personnel.

She stated, 'Some personnel had witnessed or been subjected to workplace behaviours they were concerned about but unable to raise effectively.'

‘I saw many incidents of security and housekeeping people being mistreated. It's unacceptable.

The study spelled out in terrible detail the degree of rule breaking inside Number 10 during the Covid crisis.

A housekeeper spotted red wine splashed on a wall the next morning after the Downing Street Christmas party on December 18, 2020.


The UVW protested over the contempt shown to low-paid workers in London's government buildings and workplaces.

Petros Elia, general secretary, said, 'We're not surprised by the Sue Gray report.' Thousands of our members work as cleaners and security guards in London offices and government buildings, not just Downing Street.

‘Having unlawful parties during the epidemic is immoral, but paying cleaners, porters, and security guards poverty rates and denying them sick money is unethical.

Black, brown, and migrant cleaners and security guards are particularly affected by poor working conditions and racialized inequities.

He continued: 'We represent MoJ cleaners who walked off the work during the pandemic because they weren't provided sufficient PPE and sick pay, which they subsequently received for Covid-19 absences.

‘One of our members, a cleaner at the MoJ, died tragically and avoidably. That's how far low-paid workers were disrespected and mistreated.

Boris Johnson reportedly apologised to Number 10 cleaners after the report.

A cleaning sector executive has also requested a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary.

British Cleaning Council chairman Jim Melvin was 'appalled and offended'

Now he has written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, saying: 'At a time when many cleaning and hygiene operational staff, arguably as frontline workers, were putting themselves at risk to maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure key workers and the public were kept as safe as possible during the pandemic, it is appalling and upsetting to hear that they were treated with such contempt by people who may sit within Government or the Civil Service.

'Our stance is that cleaning and hygiene operators are industrious, professional, and deserve to be acknowledged in their critical work, just like everyone else.'

In some sections of the cleaning profession, higher hygiene standards during the epidemic combined with acute staff shortages have driven many colleagues near to breaking point.

Cleaning personnel deserve government and civil service help and appreciation, not disdain.