Cleaners at prestigious UK girls’ school vote to strike over cut in hours

Gloria Chalaco, a cleaner at Jags, said: ‘Losing five weeks of work per year is deeply unfair. Our bills and rent don’t stop. On top of that, we don’t have sick pay.’ Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Cleaners at one of the most prestigious private girls’ schools in the country have voted for strike action after being told out of the blue they are to be docked five weeks of work a year.

The dispute has broken out at James Allen’s girls’ school (Jags) in Dulwich, south-east London, founded in 1741, which was the target of strike action by teachers in the National Education Union earlier this year over planned changes to their pensions.