United Voice News
2. CBD cleaning members vow to defend Clean Start
3. Retail cleaners push for change
4. Members march for a safe climate
Dear member,
We have much to celebrate in our industry.
CBD members have finally seen their pay packets grow after winning our three-year Clean Start battle with contractors.
Ana Leon from Collins Place and Rhonda Swain from Supreme Court are just some of the members sharing stories of how extra pay is making life easier.
City cleaners know they need to stay strong and united to defend their wins.
At a meeting of union leaders and delegates this month members vowed to defend our Clean Start Agreement from undercutting from non-union contractors.
They are ready to make a lot of noise if contractors refuse to sign on to Clean Start.
We also know it is not enough to win change in one part of an industry. We need to make change across our whole industry for it be lasting.
That is why retail cleaners are now getting together to talk about the change they want to see in their jobs.
They are inspired the strength, unity and determination of their brothers and sisters in the CBD.
They have seen the power of cleaners when we are united. We are unstoppable!
In unity,
Jess Walsh
Branch Secretary,
LHMU Victoria
Big smiles across the city
Smiles at Collins Place are getting bigger now that cleaning members are seeing the results of their Clean Start campaign in black and white.
Across the city cleaners’ wages have risen by up to $50 a week extra.
This is the first of four pay rises they have won through Clean Start.
Mutual member Ana Leon said life has been very difficult with constant price rises on daily essentials.
“Everything has gone up. The price of living has gone up so much.”
But after three years of solid campaigning for justice, our Clean Start victory is beginning to make life easier for members across the city.
“We don’t live close to the city,” said Ana of herself and her coworkers. “Every week I pay $49 to get to work but now I can spend this extra money on the train.”
Another welcome change won through Clean Start is minimum four hour shifts, which will see wages for some members double.
Ana and fellow members Rosario Alzamora and Rosa Munoz said standing together and demanding respect has brought about real change for low-paid cleaners.
Members at the Supreme Court also received a similar pay rise.
Delegate Rhonda Swain said she is rapt with the extra money.
“We can afford to go out to dinner once or twice a month now. If you don’t get a pay rise, with interest rates going up, you don’t get to go out.”
Rhonda said it was a long fight but members stayed united and it paid off.
“I’m just happy that we moved forward and finally won. We stuck together and fought for a pay rise and it’s nice to see we’re finally receiving it.”
CBD cleaning members vow to defend Clean Start
Thirty LHMU Cleaners Union leaders and delegates from across the city vowed to defend their Clean Start Agreement from undercutting by non-union contractors at a meeting last week.
Leaders and delegates from office buildings across Melbourne voted overwhelmingly to take action against non-union contractors who refuse to sign on to Clean Start.
ISS, Freshwater Place delegate Ana Arbizu said it is frustrating that rogue companies are refusing to sign on.
“It’s not fair that some contractors still won’t sign on to Clean Start - everybody worked so hard to make it happen for all of the city cleaners.”
Cleaning members are not about to let them get away with it.
“We won’t give up because we fought for a long time. So now we have to make noise again to get the contractors to listen – no problem,” said Ana.
Jeanette Shepherd, a delegate at Swan Services, Optus Centre said members cannot sit back and relax.
“It is important to remain active and vigilant to keep everyone’s jobs safe.”
At the meeting members discussed ways to continue building strength.
“We need more cleaners to join us, we need to keep growing and we need to raise our voices together,” said Ana.
These courageous cleaners have come a long way. But they know their fight for justice is not over.
“We need all of the contractors on board because everybody should be treated equally and it is important to protect our jobs,” said Jeanette.
“We can’t rest until the Agreement is signed by every company,” said Ana.
Retail cleaners push for change
On Wednesday 2 December cleaners from shopping centres across the State will meet to talk about the changes they want to see in their jobs.
Inspired by their brothers and sisters in the CBD, now retail cleaners are coming together too.
Chadstone Shopping Centre delegate Jenelyn Barker said city members proved change can happen when cleaners stand together.
“I really think what the city members achieved is so amazing and they deserve it.”
At the meeting members will talk about how they want their jobs to change and how to make their voices heard.
Jenelyn is excited. She wants to see workloads decrease but above all, she wants to be treated with respect.
“To feel respected and to be treated with dignity is important because we work hard and we deserve it,” she said.
Jenelyn believes there is great strength in unity.
“To have a strong voice, everyone has to put their heads together and support each other,” she said.
The meeting will be held at the union office on Wednesday 2 December at 6.30pm.
“This meeting is very important so everyone gets their say and hears things first hand. We all need to be there,” said Jenelyn.
Members march for a safe climate
On Saturday 12 December thousands of Australians will participate in the Walk Against Warming to raise their voice about the danger to our planet from climate change.
As we march world leaders will meet in Copenhagen deciding on what action the world will take on the climate crisis.
Victorians will send a message our leaders can’t ignore: a 20,000 person human sign demanding real action: Safe Climate – Do It!
Click here to join the march for a safe climate on Saturday 12 December
LHMU members are supporting the march because a safe climate matters to us too.
Member Bronwen Jefferson said she will be joining the Walk Against Warming.
“It’s such a great idea and it will be a really powerful image having this giant human sign in Melbourne, I will certainly be there.”
For Bronwen the Walk is about making sure her children can live in a safe climate.
“Children are such a huge part in this and we sometimes overlook that. They are going to inherit this mess. I will be taking my kids and I strongly encourage everyone, especially families, to get down there.”
Our campaigns have shown that when workers stand together we can make a real difference. That is why LHMU members around the country are joining the walk.
“LHMU members are used to making a difference in their workplaces so we should be looking at extending that to environmental issues by getting on board with Walk Against Warming,” said Bronwen.
The Melbourne Walk Against Warming starts at 12pm on Saturday 12 December 2009 at the State Library on Swanston Street.
Click here to join the march for a safe climate on Saturday 12 December
