United Voice News
In this issue:
1. Silent no more
2. Airport cleaners ready for take-off
3. Spotless cleaners fight back
4. Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA annual raffle
Dear member,
Last year 6000 cleaners in shopping centres around Australia launched their own Clean Start campaign.
Since then they have fought hard for respect, fair pay and fair workloads. So far they have secured a commitment from six major cleaning contractors to bargain in good faith.
But as you will read in this e-news, two of the biggest companies, Spotless and Secure Clean are still refusing to come to the table.
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Spotless are now trying to force unfair AWA-style individual contracts onto their workers.
United Voice members will never accept this kind of treatment.
You’ll read below how along with their fellow union members, community supporters and even State MPs, cleaners took to the streets to raise their voices for respect.
It was a fantastic rally and this show of solidarity sends companies like Spotless a powerful message: cleaners are united and strong, and we won’t stop fighting until we win.
Members at Melbourne Airport are also uniting for a Clean Start. They are demanding the airport’s two cleaning contractors bargain with them for their first ever union agreement.
They are fired up and know that, like Spotless and Secure Clean members, they have the rest of their union behind them.
In unity,
Jess Walsh
Victorian Secretary,
United Voice, the Cleaners Union
Silent no more
Cleaning members hit the streets, raising their voices for respect
More than 100 cleaners from across the industry were joined by community members and State MPs as they rallied in Melbourne last week to demand a Clean Start for Australia’s shopping centres.
Cleaners in shopping centres around the country are campaigning for a union agreement — just like their city comrades won two years ago.
After six months of petitioning cleaning contractors to come to the bargaining table — two of the biggest companies, Spotless and Secure Clean, are still refusing.
Tired of being ignored, United Voice members marched from Parliament to Bourke Street Mall to demand these companies listen up.
“Once we started walking and making noise and letting people know we have the right to be heard it felt great,” said Swan Services cleaner Linda McKenzie.
“I noticed people in the street clapping and giving us the thumbs up — we were finally being seen.” 
Linda works at Northland Shopping Centre and this was her first rally. She says she got involved with the campaign because she realised her future depends on it.
“I am not getting any younger but at this stage I have hardly any super to retire with and none of us have job security,” she said.
“We work hard but have no respect — we deserve more in our pockets for what we do.”
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Airport cleaners ready for take-off
Cleaning members at Melbourne Airport campaign for their first ever union agreement
Almost 200 cleaners at Melbourne Airport are campaigning contractors ISS Cleaning and Spotless Cleaning for a union agreement.
Members wrote to each contractor last week demanding they meet them at the bargaining table.
Delegate Victor Barrientos was elected to represent his fellow members on the ISS bargaining team and he is fired up to win.
“We are feeling very excited about the campaign,” said Victor (pictured).
“Already most of the ISS cleaners have joined our union. And there are more members to come when new workers start.”
Spotless bargaining team representative Angela Galeano has worked at the airport for seven years. She says the job gets tougher every year.
“We are made to work very hard and our jobs are getting even harder,” said Angela.
“That is why we want a union agreement — to fix these problems and make our jobs fairer.”
Bargaining representatives will head down to the union office this month to get trained up and ready for battle.
“I am really looking forward to the training. We have to get ready to go,” said Angela.
“It is time the company showed us they respect us,” said Victor.
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Spotless cleaners fight back
Members stand up to Spotless Cleaning’s rip off 
United Voice cleaning members marched through Melbourne last week to protest contractor Spotless' attempts to pressure workers into signing AWA-style contracts.
Spotless’ Individual Flexibility Agreements (IFAs) could cut pay and conditions — leaving members worse off.
“The company is trying to rip us off. We stood together and refused to sign it,” said Gamal Babiker from Chadstone Shopping Centre.
Spotless member Jackie Petts initially refused to sign the IFA but soon lost her Sunday shift worth $200 a week.
“I returned the document unsigned to my supervisor. She looked at the document and said there will be no more overtime for me,” wrote Jackie in a statement.
“I don’t have enough money to meet my weekly costs. I borrow money from my daughter. I don’t know how I will survive from week to week without the extra shift.”
Gamal says Spotless cleaners are united and determined to fight for a Clean Start.
“We won’t let Spotless pressure us out of our rights,” he says.
Cleaners first rallied outside the Federal Court in Melbourne, where action has been launched against Spotless.
Then with plenty of noisy support from the community and several State MPs they tore up one of the unfair IFAs right outside one of Spotless’ most important clients, David Jones (pictured).
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Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA annual raffle
Millions of workers in developing countries do not enjoy the same workplace rights as we do in Australia. They face a life of poverty and injustice.
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, on behalf of Australian union members, helps workers in many of these countries win decent jobs and better lives, through education, health and human rights programs.
Join their campaign to help workers worldwide by supporting their annual raffle.
By selling a few raffle tickets you will be helping to fund 50 projects in 15 countries!
This year APHEDA have some terrific prizes on offer including an $8000 travel voucher and two iPads!
The closing date is 20 May 2011. The winner will be drawn on 2 June 2011 with results in The Australian 7 June 2011.
Join their campaign to help workers worldwide by supporting their annual raffle.
