Cleaners take their message to Wellington's streets
Press Release – Service and Food Workers Union
24 May 2006

Tomorrow (Thursday 25th May) cleaners will be taking their message about a Clean Start for the property services industry to the streets of Wellington. After making a presentation to the Industrial Relations Select Committee about the protection of vulnerable workers in successive contracting situations, cleaners will march from parliament and make their voices heard outside the buildings they clean in The Terrace.

"Building owners need to take responsibility for the standard of cleaning done in their buildings. Cleaners need to earn enough to support their families," Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota, National Secretary, John Ryall, said today. "That's why cleaners across Australia and New Zealand have embarked on a campaign 'Clean Start – Fair Deal for Cleaners'."

Rosa Faleniko has worked as a cleaner for ten years and relies on a government family assistance package just to cover the costs of living. Between 1996 and 2006 Rosa's pay rate has increased by only 80 cents so she now earns $10.95 an hour. That's not good enough.

"Please pay me a decent wage so that I can get my family off being reliant on benefits. I just want to earn enough to support my family" said Wellington cleaner Rosa Faleniko.

Cleaners say it's time for building owners and contractors to adopt the Clean Start principles and introduce a fair deal to the property industry.

The public can support the Clean Start petition and help us fight for better standards of office cleaning and good jobs for cleaners.

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Action details:

Cleaners will be outside Parliament from 10am for the Select Committee hearing and will march to The Terrace around 11am. They will be outside commercial buildings on The Terrace between around 11.15am and 12.30pm.

ENDS

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