Ak cleaners rally to highlight low pay and respect

12 May 2009

For Immediate Use
Attention Business and Industrial reporters

Auckland cleaners rally to highlight low pay and respect

A lunchtime rally of cleaning staff from Auckland's CBD this Thursday will see city cleaners reaching out to building owners and tenants.

The rally, scheduled to begin at 1200 (Midday) comes just one week before the cleaners begin national pay talks at which the union delegates will highlight low pay and a lack of respect.

Clean Start Union Lead Organiser Fala Haulangi says the rally will be an opportunity for Aucklanders to see the daytime face of a night time industry.

"Every night hundreds of largely Pacific Island and new immigrant workers travel to the heart of Auckland to begin their work. While office blocks are emptying out the cleaners are beginning their nights work."

Fala Haulangi says while wages paid to cleaners are typically just five cents above the minimum wage of $12.50 the work is a critical part of every successful business.

"No modern office can function long without the cleaner. Yet they are treated as the invisible workers - all too often out of site and out of mind."

Union delegates will meet with Cleaning Industry employers next week in Auckland to negotiate one of the largest collective agreements in the country.

Fala Haulangi says a feature of this years bargaining will be the position taken by building owners in support of improved pay and conditions.

"Despite the talk of tough times responsible property owners know the importance of a well maintained and well presented building. By supporting a better deal for cleaners they are investing in their own property."

"Owner and tenants can also be part of a clean start"

Cleaning staff will be leafleting building tenants and the staff who work down town in the lead up to next week's negotiations.

The rally begins at 1200 at Aotea Square, and will be followed by a march down Queen Street.

For further information contact Fala Haulangi

What is the Clean Start Campaign?

• a joint campaign with cleaners in Australia (LHMU) to persuade the whole property industry - building owners, govt, and cleaning contractors to provide better jobs and respect to staff and to promote the sector as a responsible employer .
• it is about a fair deal for cleaners.
• it is about having good jobs with sufficient hours, fair pay, reasonable work rates, safe conditions and respect.

What's been won so far?

• In March 2008, four parties the Service & Food Workers Union, Building Services Contractors of New Zealand, Property Council of New Zealand, and the Government signed a protocol supporting a Sustainable Property industry known as the Principles agreement.
• All parties committed to work together to provide an improved; quality focussed cleaning and property services industry.
• Key points include clients receive and pay for good service, reputable service providers bid and win work based on fair contracting principles and reasonable reward
• Cleaners enjoy good jobs with sufficient hours, fair pay, reasonable work rates and safe conditions.

Where to from here?

• On 20 & 21 May cleaners sit down to bargaining with their employers
• Cleaners are seeking pay parity with cleaners at hospitals and directly employed cleaners at schools ($14.62). They are currently on $12.55, which is 5 cents above the minimum wage.
• The goal is to work with contractors and property owners so that these rates can set a new industry standard.

Who is involved?

• The Service and Food Workers Union representing two thousand cleaners in the Auckland & Wellington CBD.
• The major contractors such as ISS, Spotles
Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota
www.sfwu.org

ENDS

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