United Voice

In this issue:

1. ENOUGH! Cleaning bosses continue to stall

2. A house and family thanks to Clean Start

3. Airport cleaners land new deal

4. Crisis meeting organised by union members

ENOUGH! Cleaning bosses continue to stall

Shopping centre cleaners have been asking companies to sign on to our Clean Start Agreement. But bosses continue to stall and ignore members’ demand for a Clean Start.

Cleaning companies and their clients want to keep shopping centre cleaners on the Cleaning Award.

The Award is the legal minimum that bosses can pay cleaners and every year it’s getting worse and worse.

Cleaning members are angry that some members have had cuts to pay and conditions. A change to when the shift penalty applies has resulted in cleaners getting paid less.

Cleaners are angry that it’s harder to use their annual leave and sick leave entitlements.

Worse still, cleaners are angry because companies are always making mistakes with their pay. They are sick of being underpaid.

Cleaning members are saying ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!  It’s not fair that pay and conditions are being cut and that some cleaners are worse off.

A Clean Start union agreement is the only way we can restore conditions already lost and it’s the only way we can lock in current conditions so that companies cannot make further cuts.

Shopping centre members are getting ready to tell cleaning bosses that the Cleaning Award is a minimum set of conditions and not good enough.

There is going to be a crisis meeting of members on Tuesday 2 August 2011, at 6:30pm at your union office.

Shopping centre cleaners are coming together to decide on a list of demands that we want included in our Clean Start union agreement — and how to best fight for them.

A house and family thanks to Clean Start

Clean Start helped this cleaner build a life he could only dream of.

Cleaning members working in Melbourne’s office buildings received the third pay rise of their Clean Start Agreement this month — putting them almost $6000 a year ahead of the Award.

For Pickwick Eski cleaner Kamal Jimi the latest increase brings him closer to building his own home  — and seeing his wife who, he hasn’t seen for six months.

“Before we won the agreement the bank would not accept my home loan application because I did not earn enough,” explains Kamal, who currently lives in a Housing Commission apartment in Fitzroy.

“Before Clean Start I would never be able to own a home; now I plan to buy land in two weeks.”

“And I can bring my wife over from Eritrea because I have been able to pay for her immigration fees.”

“And all this I have because of our Clean Start Agreement.”

Kamal (pictured) says cleaners won justice when they won Clean Start.

Most cleaners are still stuck on the Award, especially those working in shopping centres.

But like CBD office cleaners, shopping centre cleaners are now ready to stand up and fight for their own Clean Start Agreement.

Have your say in the campaign to get off the Award and on to a union agreement. Come to a mass meeting. For details, read on.

Airport cleaners land new deal

ISS Cleaning bosses concede and members win first ever airport union agreement.

In early July, ISS Cleaning  members who work at the airport won their first ever union agreement by standing together, and being ready to fight.

The bargaining team told ISS bosses that the Cleaning Award is a minimum set of conditions and not good enough.

But the bosses continued to stall and ignore the cleaning members’ demands.

It was only after mass meetings of members in the airport terminal that the ISS bosses conceded.

ISS delegate Vince Gauci said members are celebrating after ISS agreed to every one of their demands for a fairer workplace.

“We only asked for what we deserve and it feels great to achieve it,” said Vince.

“Everyone is very happy and very excited about the agreement,” said fellow delegate Victor Barrientos.

The deal also includes delegates’ rights, minimum training standards, a member consultative committee, increased allowances and improved health and safety.

For Vince, winning the Airport Allowance for every employee was the greatest victory. ISS ceased paying it to new employees, putting 20 ISS cleaners $1600 a year behind their workmates.

“I wasn’t getting the allowance. I could have filled my car for the whole year with that money.”

“It was important to fight for that because everybody has to be treated in the same way for a workplace to be fair,” said Victor.

Members won by standing together and holding the line.

The deal means these members will be the highest paid airport cleaners in the country and the first to move off the Award and on to a union agreement.

Crisis meeting organised by union members

On Tuesday 2nd August cleaning members are getting together to discuss and vote on the list of demands they want to see included in our Clean Start Union Agreement.

This list of demands is what shopping centre cleaners are willing to stand up and fight for.

Cleaning members will work out the action plan to win.

By coming to this crisis meeting you can have your say on what these demands are and how best to fight for them. 

It’s time to tell the bosses to stop ignoring cleaners’ demands and to sign on to a Clean Start.

How to get there?
By train: Closest train station is Flagstaff.
By car: There is parking available out the front or at the back of the union office
By tram: 55 or 57 trams

For more information or if you need assistance with transport, contact the union office on 9235 7777

Tuesday 2 August 2011 at 6:30pm
At your union office, 117–131 Capel St, North Melbourne 3051