United Voice News
More MPs sign up to KEEP IT CLEAN
Member for Londonderry Allan Shearan and Member for Riverstone John Aquilina have pledged their support to NSW school cleaners, having both signed campaign postcards early this week.
NSW school cleaner and LHMU activist Sharon Robinson met with MPs Shearan and Aquilina and says she was "a bit nervous" at first but "they were just so nice". "They were really sympathetic," she says. "I was on a real high afterwards. It was excellent … I'm glad I put my hand up to do this."
Sharon spoke to her MPs about the importance of portability of long service leave and a sick leave safety net. And says both MPs were very positive.
Sharon says the long service leave issue doesn't really affect her now since she's only been a school cleaner for two-and-a-half years. But "if I decide to stay long-term, I would lose the entitlements I've got if I have to start with another employer" if the contract changes.
"I wouldn't want to get paid out. We want our time off we deserve it," Sharon adds.
Sharon says it is important for cleaners to lobby their local MPs because it is "about job security and taking our entitlements from one employer to another". "It's about long-term security," she says.
Sharon has been handing out support postcards and getting her school community to sign up. "We have to keep getting the word out there," she says.
Need more support postcards or want to join the campaign to help school cleaners win a fair schools contract? Contact the Member Service Centre on 1800 805 027 to have a few postcards sent out to you and get friends and family to sign them.
