RCA cleaners fired after protesting sexual harassment and workplace abuse

• Two cleaners at the Royal College of Art have been dismissed and two more issued final warnings after protesting over alleged workplace abuse and sexual harassment
• Cleaners belonging to the IWGB Union say they organised the protest to raise the alarm about safety concerns after RCA’s cleaning subcontractor PfP Students failed to act on complaints dating back years
• The supervisor accused of abusive behaviour by over 16 cleaners has now left the RCA, but the cleaners who sought his removal have not been allowed back to work
• The IWGB will protest on Thursday 14 May at the RCA’s Battersea Campus demanding the reinstatement of the dismissed workers
  

Monday 11 May 2026: Two cleaners at the Royal College of Art have been dismissed after taking part in a letter hand-in protest over alleged workplace abuse and sexual harassment, involving supervisors employed by the university’s cleaning subcontractor, PfP Students. The workers, who are members of the IWGB Union, say they are being victimised for speaking out about harassment and safety concerns in the workplace.

PfP Students told the workers they were being dismissed for gross misconduct following an attempt on 24 February to hand in a grievance letter, alleging workplace abuse and harassment. The cleaners organised the action through their union because they felt that repeated complaints about their safety at work were being ignored thanks to improper or incomplete investigations.

Since 2021, the Royal College of Art’s cleaners - mostly migrant, Spanish-speaking women - have submitted multiple formal complaints alleging a toxic and unsafe workplace culture. At least 16 cleaners formally complained about one supervisor in particular, including allegations that he made unwelcome advances, filmed workers without consent, cornered one worker in a bathroom, and used misogynistic insults against several workers, including calling them the Spanish words for “d*ke”, “slut”, “b*tch”, and “menopausal”.

The union says the dismissals amount to retaliation against workers who raised concerns about abuse and harassment. Two additional cleaners involved in the protest have also been issued final written warnings.

Students, academic staff and technicians at the university have rallied around the cleaners’ campaign, with more than 400 people writing to RCA leadership urging them to protect the cleaning team from further harassment and abuse.

The IWGB is organising a protest to take place this Thursday on 14 May to demand the Royal College of Art and PfP Students reinstate the dismissed cleaners and withdraw the disciplinary warnings.

An RCA cleaner and IWGB member, who was fired and wishes to remain anonymous whilst appealing the decision, said:

“I’ve lost my only income. Why? Because I couldn’t stay quiet whilst an injustice remained. I’m proud of finding the courage in myself to speak up against sexism in my workplace. We need a safe campus where workers are not subject to harassment, abuse and bullying from managers. I hope that the RCA takes responsibility and intervenes to have these unfair dismissals reversed. We too are part of the university.”

Maria Abril, RCA cleaner who faced a disciplinary investigation, said:

“I could have walked away like many others did, because people were scared and exhausted. But I stayed because I didn’t want other women to go through what so many workers had already experienced.

Through the union, I found the confidence to speak up. I believed that if we stood together, management would finally have to listen and take seriously the fear and pressure many cleaners had been living under for years.

What still shocks me is that, instead of creating a safe environment for workers to raise concerns, the response was to investigate the cleaners who spoke up. To me, that sends a worrying message: that workers may feel afraid to speak openly about problems in the workplace.”

Maritza Castillo Calle, Vice President of the IWGB Union, said:

“For years, cleaners at the RCA have reported harassment, intimidation and abusive behaviour. Instead of protecting workers, management has targeted the people who spoke out. Nobody should lose their job for demanding safety and dignity at work

The treatment of the RCA’s low-paid, racialised and migrant cleaners shows what institutional racism and sexism can look like in practice. However often the RCA speaks about feminism and anti-racism through its teaching, exhibitions and research, it has fallen deeply short of those values when its own workers needed protection.”