United Voice News
Canberra's Clean Start celebration
Clean Start activists and cleaning contractors met in Canberra over lunch during Anti-Poverty Week to celebrate the implementation of the Clean Start Agreement and to discuss issues of importance in the industry, to employees and employers.
Issues on the agenda included long service leave portability and the current operation of the fund, the requirement of companies to provide group training, Commonwealth Government Procurement Guidelines and sham contracting.
Clean Start trivial pursuit
Cleaners and their employers formed teams for a game of Clean Start trivial pursuit. The aim of the game was to educate union delegates and Clean Start signatories about the main provisions of the Clean Start Agreement.
Representatives of most of ACT's major cleaning contractors joined in the celebrations including BIC Services, City Group, ISS Facility Services, Pickwick Group, Spotless and VNT Services.
"I think the entire ACT cleaning industry is dead keen to get this right – we want everyone to know their rights and obligations. When these things are clearly understood by everyone there is far less time wasted dealing with disputes," said Lyndal Ryan, Secretary, ACT Branch, LHMU.
"It is also very important that there are open lines of communication between cleaners and their employers – interacting in a fun way is just the start."
Luzia Borges, one of the leading cleaning delegates at Parliament House said, "I thought that the sessions on training and sham contracting were the most useful but altogether it was a very good day."
A good time was had by all at this light-hearted but nevertheless significant industry event. The Cleaning Long Service Leave Board who sponsored this quiz celebration have now committed to sponsoring an annual event.
