Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Cleaners protest poor work practises

Tenants forced to empty own bins, say overworked cleaners — grime-fighting CAPTAIN CLEAN to the rescue!
Tenants at 1 Spring Street in central Melbourne are expected to empty their own bins, say their overworked cleaners.

Captain Clean tells it like it is as cleaners take to the streets

Hundreds of cleaners and their supporters rallied on Thursday August 10 at Federation Square and then marched on the 32-storey office tower to protest at bad practices by cleaning contractor, Australian Facilities Management (AFM).
1 Spring Street’s cleaning contract changed over last November. Since then, the new contractor AFM has dramatically increased cleaners’ workload, shortened their shifts and forced cleaners to cut corners. They have been instructed not to empty bins — this is the tenant’s responsibility, says AFM. Tenants complain that soap dispensers are rarely refilled.
The noisy, colourful demonstration was led by ‘CAPTAIN CLEAN’ — a caped cleaning crusader who flies to the aid of overworked cleaners tormented by corner-cutting cleaning contractors.  Following close behind CAPTAIN CLEAN were his merry troupe of 15 rubbish collectors — brandishing large steel trashcans.  
CAPTAIN CLEAN marched up to the building’s entrance and relieved office workers of their overflowing bins.
Cleaners say AFM only permits them to empty bins on just three of 32 floors at 1 Spring Street. Since November 2005 AFM has shortened cleaners’ shifts and increased their workload. One cleaner has had the time she has to clean a whole floor reduced from 70 minutes to less than 40 minutes.
Tenants include the Office of Multicultural Affairs, ministerial offices for federal Deputy Opposition Leader Jenny Macklin, state Sports Minister Justin Madden, Primary Industries Minister Theo Theophanous, several other state departmental offices, Connex and Vision Super.
Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union’s Victorian Branch Secretary Brian Daley said today that both of 1 Spring Street’s owners – Lend Lease and Allco – have given support to adopting the LHMU’s Clean Start – Fair Deal For Cleaners campaign principles to lift cleaning standards and working conditions in their buildings.  
The demonstration asked them to show their commitment to these principles by insisting that the cleaning contractor lift standards or be replaced with one who will.
“Tenants and cleaners at 1 Spring St are getting a raw deal from AFM. Lend Lease and Alllco have said they don’t want these practices in their buildings. Now they can prove it: tell AFM to clean up or clear out,” said Daley.

Get more Clean Start: Fair Deal for Cleaners campaign news

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