Goldmsiths, University of London has confirmed its cleaners will be brought in-house, after a month-long campaign by staff, students and Unison.

Cleaning services at the university were outsourced to ISS, a Danish “facility services provider,” which had made changes to shift patterns and shortened hours.

But the university has now agreed to make the 100 cleaners  university staff.

The transition will take six months, a spokesperson for Goldsmiths said.

“Following intensive discussions in recent weeks, Goldsmiths has decided to bring its cleaning provision in-house. Plans to do this were approved at a meeting of the college’s governing council,” the spokesperson said.

“The new plans will ensure that cleaners at Goldsmiths benefit from increased annual leave allowance, access to a better pension provision, and maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay in line with other Goldsmiths staff.

“While we will move as quickly as possible, starting in November, and as with some other universities that have in-sourced, there will be a transitional period of at least six months to consult with the recognised trade union over employment terms and complete the necessary operational and legal processes.”

This comes after students, staff and trade union Unison campaigned for cleaners to be brought in-house after ISS made changes to the cleaners’ hours early last month.

A restructure saw shifts change to one new evening shift from 7.30pm to 11.30pm, from two shifts which ran from either 11pm to 5am or 5.30am to 8.30am.

Testimonies collected from cleaners by student and staff campaign group Justice for Cleaners highlighted how the shortened hours would impact on pay, with some losing more than £600 a month, and how late shifts would impact on personal safety and childcare commitments.

But Goldsmiths has confirmed the budgeted number of cleaning hours will be increased and there will be greater flexibility around shift patterns.

The campaign to bring cleaners in-house received support from Lewisham Labour group, with Mayor Damien Egan also backing the campaign.