United Voice News
Big smiles across the city
Smiles at Melbourne's Collins Place are getting bigger now that cleaning members are seeing the results of their Clean Start campaign in black and white.
Across the city cleaners’ wages have risen by up to $50 a week extra.
This is the first of four pay rises they have won through Clean Start.
Mutual member Ana Leon said life has been very difficult with constant price rises on daily essentials.
“Everything has gone up. The price of living has gone up so much.”
But after three years of solid campaigning for justice, our Clean Start victory is beginning to make life easier for members across the city.
“These people are not living close to the city,” said Ana of herself and her coworkers. “Every week I pay $49 to get to work but now I can spend this extra money on the train.”
Another welcome change won through Clean Start is minimum four hour shifts, which will see wages for some members double.
Ana and fellow members Rosario Alzamora and Rosa Munoz said standing together and demanding respect has brought about real change for low-paid cleaners.
Members at the Supreme Court also received a similar pay rise.
Delegate Rhonda Swain said she is rapt with the extra money.
“We can afford to go out to dinner once or twice a month now. If you don’t get a pay rise, with interest rates going up, you don’t get to go out.”
Rhonda said it was a long fight but members stayed united and it paid off.
“I’m just happy that we moved forward and finally won. We stuck together and fought for a pay rise and it’s nice to see we’re finally receiving it.”
