United Voice News
Tasmanian cleaners welcome Cabinet's approval of Clean Start for government buildings
LHMU - The cleaners' union welcomes today's announcement on International Cleaners' Day that the Tasmanian Government is supporting Clean Start principles and is working to implement the Clean Start Collective Agreement from 1 July.
“Today’s announcement that Cabinet has signed-off on the Clean Start principles is great news for Tasmania’s hard-working contract cleaners,” says David O’Byne, Tasmanian Branch Secretary of the LHMU - The cleaners’ union.
“This a major milestone in Tasmanian cleaners’ three year campaign for justice and dignity because the State Government is a key building owner and tenant in Tasmania.
“This announcement recognises that many cleaners are currently working under unfair and unreasonable working conditions. These include:
• Unreasonable workloads - cleaning around 1,000 square metres of office space an hour – that’s the equivalent of four suburban homes!
• Short shifts - many are currently as short as 2 hour. Cleaners are often forced to take on second and third jobs so they can earn enough money to support their families.
• Low pay - office cleaners work part time shifts earning just 27% ($302 per week) of the average wage ($1,137 per week). They earn in a year what a major CEO earns in one day!
• Insufficient time to do their work properly - cleaners are the front line in any response to pandemics such as the current Swine Flu crisis. Yet, cleaners are often forced to leave offices dirty and toilets unsanitary – more than half of cleaners say they aren’t given enough time to do their jobs properly.
“Tasmania will soon join New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT in triggering the Clean Start Collective Agreement as we are very close to having the majority of buildings in the Hobart CBD cleaned by Clean Start responsible cleaning companies,” says David O’Byrne.
What the Clean Start Collective Agreement delivers to cleaners:
• reasonable workloads
• four hour minimum shifts (in larger CBD buildings)
• job security at change of contract
• fair leave
• annual wage increases of between 4-8% over four years
• proper induction and on-the-job training
• effective dispute resolution procedures
Photo:
David O'Byrne, Tasmanian Branch Secretary, Wendy Hand, cleaner help Lisa Singh, Minister for Relations cut the cake marking the announcement that Tasmania will adopt the Clean Start Collective Agreement for cleaners working in government buildings from the 1 July.
