Workers performed tasks under the mezzanines, including operating machines cleaning the soles of Asics running shoes.

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Under heavy pressure from unions to rule as it did, the administration made its decision following a Labor Department assessment that public sector work, from cleaning streets to processing government forms, qualified as work under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

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As a federal prosecutor, and then as a deputy mayor under Rudolph Giuliani, Mastro fought the New York Mob, cleaning up the Fulton Fish Market and the San Gennaro Festival, despite death threats.

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Until you wake up under your desk with Ben from accounting to the sounds of the cleaning lady making her morning rounds.

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But an intense debate is under way over whether to subject the nude giant to a dry cleaning or to give it a bath.

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"Metronet is now under the mayor's direct control, and three of its cleaning contracts are being renegotiated right now, but so far there has been not one word about the London Living Wage, " he said.

BBC: Tube cleaners in 'fair wage' call

It says its members' alternative suggestions for saving money include scrapping the internal market in the NHS and bringing outsourced services such as bin collection and street cleaning back under public control.

BBC: Unions urge different approach as cuts debate continues