United Voice News
MPs Megarrity and Greene join growing list of supporters
Member for Menai MP Alison Megarrity and Member for Oatley MP Kevin Greene have both recently joined a growing list of MPs who support NSW school cleaners' "KEEP IT CLEAN for our schools' future" campaign.
School cleaner at Menai PS Barbara Mannix lobbied both MPs recently and was happy to have done so. She says both MPs listened to school cleaners' stories and it was a good opportunity to provide them with information about what school cleaners needed in the next contract.
Barbara spoke about how school cleaners needed a better-funded contract and an effective voice.
She says school cleaning as a sector needs to change – because she has worked for most of the cleaning contractors and they are all the same. "No one realises what we have to put up with every day that we go in there," Barbara says. "They don't understand the frustration that cleaners have. No one comes and asks us. If the Department is so concerned about how the cleaning is being done, they should talk to cleaners. Unless people hear about this, it is going to be the same."
And she says school cleaners need a better funded contract. "Our wages are below average and we are doing hard labour." She says school cleaners are getting more work to do with new whiteboards and more computers in schools. "They just say clean it but we don't get any more time."
"I hope that [the government] does something," Barbara says. "If we do all this and they don't put [these things] in the contract then they don't care. It might be the last straw for the older cleaners. If we don't get what we are asking for, I think we will leave."
NSW school cleaners continue meeting their local MPs this month. To lend your support, contact the Member Service Centre on 1800 805 027 to pick up some campaign postcards for friends and family to sign!
