United Voice

Cleaners at Melbourne Airport are set to begin industrial action within days that could see passengers enduring filthy toilets, dirty food courts and overflowing bins, after their employer Spotless refused its last chance to pay them fairly.

Earlier, the cleaners met Spotless for urgent crisis talks in a last-ditch bid to avert industrial action that could severely disrupt the airport. But the company continued to tell them they should be paid $1600 less than other cleaners at Melbourne Airport.

“Spotless had one last chance today to stop this strike and prevent any inconvenience to travellers, but instead it continues to treat its employees with contempt, telling them they should be paid less than other cleaners at Melbourne Airport,” says Ben Redford, Assistant Victorian Secretary of United Voice, the Cleaners Union.

Yesterday, an Australian Electoral Commission ballot of cleaners returned 95 per cent support for industrial action. A strike could begin in as little as three working days.

“Cleaners just want to do their jobs and are keen to avoid industrial action. But since Spotless is stubbornly refusing to pay them the same as other cleaners in the airport, they have no choice but to strike,” Redford says.

Proposed actions include partial stop-work actions to a full indefinite strike, as well as bans on cleaning and related duties like replacing toilet rolls and emptying bins (See fact sheet for full list). Airport cleaners are to meet soon to decide on what action to take.

“More than 55,000 passengers pass through Melbourne Airport every day, so bins must be emptied, toilets must be cleaned and toilet rolls must be replaced,” Redford says.

“With tens of thousands of people passing through the airport every day, it’s going to get very unpleasant very quickly if Spotless’s stance forces cleaners to strike.”

In July, airport cleaners working in the international terminal for ISS Cleaning won a new union agreement that provides annual pay increases of four per cent. It also restores an airport allowance stripped away during the award-modernisation process.

But Spotless is refusing to reinstate the airport allowance, worth $1600 a year, which cleaners rely on to help cover transport costs. Its cleaners are forced to pay for petrol, parking and to maintain a car because there is no reasonably priced public transport.

“As most passengers would know, Melbourne Airport can be very expensive to get to and from. Until recently cleaners were paid an allowance for that, and they just want it back.”

“Cleaners work hard to make sure Melbourne Airport is hygienic and looks at its best for the travelling public, but they’re being forced to do that essential work for poverty wages.

“And as the cost of living has soared in recent years, it has just got tougher and tougher for our cleaners to provide for their families on their poverty wages,” Redford says.

Airport cleaners employed by Spotless earn as little as $16.57 per hour.

Airport cleaners have met with Spotless four times since April. Initially, the company refused to even meet, but was ordered to do so by Fair Work Australia following a majority-support determination.

Further info: Adam Cathro, United Voice, Media Officer, 0413 239 665