United Voice News
Cleaners celebrate International Cleaners' Day
NSW cleaners celebrated June 15's International Cleaners' Day by taking to the streets again - this time targeting cleaning company Springmount Services Pty Ltd to demand a Clean Start.
Springmount, a big employer in Queensland that also has a couple of buildings in NSW, has yet to sign on to the Clean Start agreement which gives cleaners guaranteed pay rises and better working conditions.
Although cleaner Elisa Lubke's employer has already signed the Clean Start agreement, she says she turned up to the rally because "I want changes in the cleaning industry". "Everyone needs a pay rise and it is very hard work that cleaners do, for only a small amount of money," the LHMU member and long-time supporter of the Clean Start campaign says. And the Clean Start agreement is a first step in not only ensuring that but also in raising the industry standard.
LHMU NSW Executive Vice President Rebecca Reilly says Clean Start is about reforming the industry. "This agreement means contractors have to provide good jobs for cleaners, including fairer hours, with minimum four-hour shifts; and fairer workloads."
The Clean Start campaign has been more than three-years in the making, culminating in October last year when several major cleaning companies across Australia signed the agreement.
"Cleaners can be proud of what they have achieved. Through countless demonstrations and rallies, their collective voice has moved big property contractors to change an industry that has till now been characterised by low wages and poor working conditions," Rebecca says.
Elisa says being part of such a big campaign and the union is important for cleaners. "I think it is important because it is good to have a back up … it's good to know there is someone there to turn to for help and to guide you," she says.
Cleaners in NSW rallied in support of fellow cleaners in Queensland, demanding Springmount sign the agreement to trigger its application in that state.
