The big majority of the 28 workers, seven of whom are on temporary contract, have signed up to join the National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT). The company, however, has not yet responded to a letter from the RMT local union branch demanding union recognition for the cleaning workers.

Pall Mall, the company that took over the cleaning contract at the rail station in April, has been trying to intimidate workers to get them to carry out their jobs under dangerous conditions, such as cleaning platform edges while trains are moving, as well as doing maintenance jobs that include fixing electrical equipment without training.

One worker explained, "In the past these jobs were covered by SERCO [the previous company], who would bring in maintenance workers to do them. Now they expect us to cover the job. My father was a union man and he said that this is taking the job of another worker."

Workers responded to the atmosphere of intimidation by organizing a meeting, where they put together the demands they were going to take to the company. They demanded not to be assigned unsafe work, that the company cover jobs that are not theirs, and that the employer supply them with protective clothing and equipment.

They are also fighting for a contract that includes a cost-of-living pay raise, which they have not had for 18 months, as well as premium rates for shift work, weekend work, and overtime.

Currently the cleaning workers earn £3.83 ($5.75) per hour plus 50 pence for day shift, and an extra 60 pence per hour for night shift. They also receive an "attendance allowance," but the bosses can withdraw it if workers are late.

The cleaners work six 12-hour shifts-- three day shifts and three night shifts-- before getting three days off. So one of their demands is to work an eight-hour day.

The bosses have refused to respond to any of these demands.

The workers at Piccadilly station are looking to meet with workers employed by Pall Mall at Leeds station to strengthen their fight for the union. Other workers at Manchester Piccadilly, members of the RMT, have extended solidarity with the fight for union recognition.

Julie Crawford and Debra Jacobs are members of the RMT at Piccadilly. Andrew Brown, a member of the RMT who works for Pall Mall, contributed to this article.