A government janitor described how he and his colleagues felt powerless to refuse difficult situations, such as cleaning up after parties, amid alleged harassment and low pay.
Sue Gray’s report on the Partygate scandal this week revealed that state cleaners and security guards were subjected to “disrespect and mistreatment” as employees drank excessively, spilled wine on walls and had fun in the wee hours.
Vincent Gomes, a cleaner at the Ministry of Justice, told the Guardian: “We are not feeling well in these situations, but we have to do it – it is almost mandatory. We are not well treated, we get poorly paid even when we have to work many nights and we are really sad about that. There is a lack of respect and the last few years have been very bad. “
Gomes is a cousin and former colleague of Emanuel Gomes, a government janitor who died after working for the Justice Ministry during the blockade, although he is seriously ill.
Emmanuel was afraid of losing his salary, so he started working with a fever, as it turned out. A colleague helped him get home and died within hours. This was before widespread testing for Covid and the official cause of death was hypertension of the heart.
Emanuel Gomez Photo: family distribution
Emanuel’s name made headlines this week when the BBC’s Nick Robinson mistakenly said he was part of a team cleaning down Downing Street.
Emanuel’s family is suing the Department of Justice and the OCS cleaning subcontractor over what they say are health and safety issues surrounding his death.
Vincent Gomez said: “My cousin didn’t have to work when everyone was home and still getting paid. It was a very sad time for the cleaners. I didn’t know he was in the news. But when I hear about these parties, I think, “How can this be allowed to happen?” I’ve been so sad since he died; this is my cousin and I couldn’t even find him when he was dying to be with him. “
Gray’s report drew widespread condemnation of the treatment of government scavengers and prompted the prime minister to apologize.
The President of the British Cleaning Council (BCC), representing cleaning and hygiene workers, wrote an open letter asking him to meet with the head of the civil service, saying: “The BCC is appalled and upset by the ‘lack of respect and mistreatment cleaning staff “in № 10.”
The demonstration on Downing Street on Friday night. Photo: John Sibley / Reuters
Gomez planned to join a protest in front of Downing Street on Friday night to demand better pay and conditions.
“I protest because we are abused and poorly paid,” he said. “I start at 20:30 and work until five in the morning. I work five days a week at £ 9.50 an hour and don’t even get £ 1,500 a month. How does this work? How can I pay for my house? With a loan? I don’t know how I will cope and I will have a family someday. I can not. It’s sad, and it’s been so long and they can’t give us a raise. We don’t get anything. “
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Emmanuel Gomez is buried at home in Guinea, a country he is leaving to find work to support his family. His friends and family raised more than £ 25,000 to repatriate his body.
Speaking from Portugal, Emmanuel’s brother said he thought the situation was still unfair. Leao Gomez said: “When I called him and he said he was still working during the pandemic, I was confused why he wasn’t home either. They were all at home, locked up, but he worked for the state and was told to come in.
“Losing him from so far away is awful. I spoke to him that evening, and the next day a neighbor called to say he was dead. We now have lawyers engaged. “
They contacted the Ministry of Justice and the cleaning company OCS for comment. During the controversy over the death of Emanuel Gomez, OCS said it followed public health guidelines at all times and was not responsible for the decision to keep certain government websites open.
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