Letter: Don't mock the modern mop

Mr Martin O'Halloran
Monday 12 September 1994 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: I wonder what the Commission for Racial Equality is trying to achieve in the advertisement carried in Wednesday last's Independent ('Who says ethnic minorities can't get jobs? There are openings everywhere', 7 September). What it does achieve is to insult many people, ethnic and non-ethnic, who take great pride in their role of making our buildings clean, safe and pleasant places to live and work in. It also reinforces the tired stereotype that people become cleaning operatives when they are incapable of doing anything else.

The UK cleaning industry today has carefully controlled recruitment policies, extensive training programmes and dedicated employees carrying out important duties. I implore visitors to Terminal 1 at Heathrow to talk to ISS operatives (on site 24 hours). They will see a fine example of these policies in practice, and a happy mix of ethnic and non-ethnic workers.

Yours faithfully,

MARTIN O'HALLORAN

Managing Director

ISS Cleaning Services UK

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in