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

LHMU Cleaners Union Media Release - Toilet cleaning workshops prepare office workers for cleaners' strike

6 October 2008
Melbourne office cleaners will hold toilet cleaning workshops across the CBD this week on toilet bowls smeared with peanut butter.

 

The workshops will be held outside major office buildings cleaned by Australia’s largest contractor ISS Facility Services.

 

Cleaners say the workshops are necessary because the likelihood of strike action continues to increase.

 

It is likely that any stoppages could seriously disrupt rubbish removal and toilet cleaning inside major city buildings.

Major contractors had offered Melbourne’s 2000 office cleaners minimum pay rises of between four and five percent as a part of new five year agreement; however they have now walked away from this.

Cleaners say they cannot survive on average wages of just $300 a week. They have been in negotiations for 12 months on a new pay deal.  

LHMU Cleaners Union State Secretary Jess Walsh says cleaners do not want to inconvenience the public but feel they have no other option.

 

“ Cleaners don’t want to resort to strike action. They want their employers to come back to the table and offer them a decent pay increase.”

 

“ A cleaners’ strike would seriously disrupt rubbish removal and toilet cleaning inside major city buildings. It would not be pretty. Office workers need to be prepared for that. ”

“Cleaners are calling on Australia’s largest contractor, ISS, to take a leadership role and return the negotiating table.”


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