United Voice News
Brisbane’s Government building cleaners celebrated International Cleaners Day today by protesting the low pay and conditions many in the industry still face.
LHMU member and Brisbane contract cleaner Audrey Smith said all cleaners deserved better wages and conditions, whether they be working is a school, a Brisbane office building or local and regional shopping centres.
“We just want fair wages and conditions for the job that we perform,” Audrey said.
“Improvements to expected workloads, job security, shift hours, leave entitlements and fair treatment of workers are just some of the basic things we want guaranteed.
“The Clean Start campaign is all about securing fair rights at work for all cleaners,” she said.
International Cleaners Day was first celebrated in 1990 in the United States of America as ‘Justice for Cleaners Day’. Since then for nearly two decades June 15 has become a focal point for organising cleaners in campaigns and celebrations across several continents.
Today, the campaign continues as cleaners across the world struggle for respect and dignity. In Australia cleaners continue to be treated as inferior citizens and are fighting for better wages and conditions through the Clean Start campaign.
Tens of thousands of cleaners across the world will celebrate today with rallies, reminding all building owners and tenants that the people who come after dark to clean their offices have names, faces and basic rights.
For more information on how you can support cleaners, please visit www.cleanstart.org
