United Voice News
In this issue:
1. Fair and safe workloads
2. Hundreds of cleaners pledge their support for our bargaining principles
3. It's not too late to take the pledge
4. Bargaining begins
5. Attend your next local union meeting
Fair and safe workloads
“We need fair and safe workloads because after changing contracts every two or three years the work has become overloaded for us and we can’t handle it anymore.”
“The second thing we need is more time to finish our tasks. But the companies everywhere are cutting hours.
“To get the contract, companies lower their prices which means cleaners get cut and lose their jobs. Then the people left behind have to cover the extra work.
“Every two or three years we get a new contract and they are cutting money. But they forget they are cutting people.
“We are human. We deserve a job and we deserve good treatment.”
Gamal Babiker (pictured)
Chadstone Shopping Centre
Spotless
Hundreds of cleaners pledge their support for our bargaining principles
“I have worked at Highpoint Shopping Centre for eight years. Things are difficult at Highpoint; we’re getting a lot of extra work that we shouldn’t be doing. Management want to save money but they have to think about us too.”
“I took a pledge by signing the green sheet. I am committing to fixing the problems at Highpoint and the wider cleaning industry.
“The bargaining principle most important to us is the right to job security. Especially with Reflections going bust and having to go through probation with the new company.Not knowing if we have our jobs guaranteed is worrying.
“It is important to me to stand with my fellow cleaners because they work hard and I respect them.
“Other cleaners need to sign the green sheet, get on board with Clean Start and support their fellow cleaners.
“We need cleaners to stand up in every shopping centre. The more cleaners that get involved, the more chance there is that the contractors and centre management will see what is going on and will listen to us.
“The more of us that get together, the more power we will have when we are negotiating. We need to be strong.”
Wayne Borg (pictured, centre)
Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong
SecureCorp
It’s not too late to take the pledge!
But what are we committing to when we sign the green sheet?
By signing the green sheet, cleaners are pledging to support four solutions for a fair deal.
1. A real right to job security: we need our job and hours to be safe at change of contract, if we are made redundant we should be paid out properly, and we should be involved in any changes that affect our jobs.
2. Fair and safe workloads: we should be supplied with the right equipment, our workloads should be reasonable and we should have the right to refuse to work in an unsafe situation.
3. Fair pay for the work we do: we need an increase in pay, penalties and allowances should be paid properly, and we should be paid on time.
4. Respect and fair treatment at work: workplaces should be free from harrasment, we should be able to speak up about problems we have, we have the right to join and be involved in our union and we should receive appropriate training and support.
Bargaining begins
“Glad, ISS, Swan, Millennium and Pristine showed up to the first day of negotiations.”
“Forty cleaners from QLD, WA, SA, NSW, and VIC were there.
“Spotless didn’t show — that didn’t make me feel good. There were seven Spotless cleaners from all different parts of Australia but no contractor. It wouldn’t have been hard for a big worldwide company like that to go.
“Spotless showed they have no respect for us.
“We all shared our stories of hardship with the contractors. They listened to us and said they were concerned but that they aren’t rich either and they will lose money.
“We said we would push for a pay rise and job security.
“I felt it went really well and I feel that we will get what we want if we all unite together and keep pushing.
“We all have to be strong and support the bargaining team and be really positive. If we don’t, nothing will change.
“Cleaners need to support each other. This campaign is important for every cleaner. This campaign could change our lives in a big way as far as wages, respect, job security and workloads.
“It is never too late get involved. Come to the next meeting!”
Jackie Petts (pictured, right)
Westfield Doncaster
Elected bargaining representative for Spotless cleaners
Attend your next local union meeting
Melbourne: 6:30pm Mon 29 November
at your union office
117-131 Capel St
North Melbourne
Melways reference: 2B A11
Springvale: 6:30pm Tues 30 November
behind Springvale Town Hall
Civic Centre Meeting Room
397- 405 Springvale Rd
Melways reference: 79 K11
• Get the latest update on our Clean Start for Retail campaign
• Hear from your bargaining representatives on the latest round of contract negotiations
• Learn what it will take to win a strong agreement for shopping centre cleaners
