United Voice

In July Julia Gillard committed the Australian Government to supporting Clean Start fair work principles in all new contracts to clean government owned or occupied buildings. The Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australian and Tasmanian Governments have also announced their support for Clean Start.

It's great to see the Deputy Prime Minister supporting a fair deal for Australia's hard-working cleaners.

Read what Julia Gillard said about Clean Start at the LHMU Leaders' Conference this morning:

Fair Work Principles and Clean Start Campaign

Through the Clean Start campaign, your union has led the way in promoting better wages and working conditions for cleaners across the country. You are fighting for seven fair solutions in the industry: Fair Treatment, Fair Hours, Fair Workload and Safety, Fair Wages, Fair Leave, Fair Job Security and Fair Rights.

Clean Start is an effective and creative campaign that brings the problems facing workers in the cleaning industry to the attention of building owners and other clients, so they can use the power of their purchasing dollar to make a difference.

The Rudd Labor Government wants to see the last of the unreasonable workloads, lack of time for doing a job properly and the low pay that cleaners have had to endure.

The Australian Government has a lot of office buildings that need cleaning.

I was delighted to announce in July this year that the Australian Government was joining the Clean Start Campaign and that only those cleaning contractors which meet our new Fair Work Principles will be awarded new Commonwealth contracts.

The Principles mean that:

    • Suppliers to the Australian Government will have breached their contracts if they contravene the Fair Work Act or do not comply with their award and other obligations.
    • Suppliers must also disclose how they will promote fair, cooperative and productive workplace relations, including showing their commitment to supporting apprenticeships and education and training.
    • When agencies award cleaning contracts, they will need to take into account staffing levels and ensure appropriate training, supervision, equipment and materials to enable safe and efficient work performance.
    • In addition, best practice measures will be piloted between the cleaning contractors, agency clients and unions.

Today I want to announce that I am writing to each State and Territory Government to strongly encourage them to join the Australian Government in signing on to Clean Start.

I will urge my state and territory counterparts to join with the Commonwealth, so that all public money spent in Australia on cleaning services is spent only on those businesses that do the right thing by their employees: who provide Fair Treatment, Fair Hours, Fair Workload and Safety, Fair Wages, Fair Leave, Fair Job Security and Fair Rights.

I congratulate Louise Tarrant and all those in the LHMU involved with this successful campaign and look forward to continuing to be part of it.

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Photo:

Julia Gillard announcing the Australian Government is becoming a Clean Start Government, Sydney, 31 July 2009