United Voice News
Minister John Robertson commits to supporting school cleaners
NSW IR Minister (and former Unions NSW boss) John Robertson has been the latest minister to sign up in support of NSW school cleaners.
Cleaner at William Stimson Public School Agustina 'Tina' Herrera, with fellow cleaners Dann Kaempff and Michelle Watkins, met with Minister Robertson today. They told the minister their stories, about how important portability of long service leave, a sick leave safety net and job security are to them.
For Tina, it was her first time meeting a Minister and she says she was "nervous". "I was nervous in the beginning but very good after. He made me feel very relaxed and he was very nice."
Tina told Minister Robertson her story about how she had been working the same job, at the same school for 15 years, but lost 50 sick days when the contract changed. "I'm working at the same job, at the same school why do I have to lose [my sick days]?"
The minister was very interested in what cleaners had to say. "He could not believe that because of the change in contract this was happening," Tina says. "And he thought that it was not right so he was going to look into it."
Minister Robertson told cleaners it was important he heard their stories because "peoples' stories are the compelling part of the argument".
NSW school cleaners are meeting with their local MPs throughout Term 2. To support school cleaners, contact the Member Service Centre on 1800 805 027 to pick up a few postcards and get family and friends to sign them!
Dann Kaempff Manly West Primary