Anzac tradition continues as Aussie cleaners go into bat for a fair deal for Kiwi cleaners Press Release: Service and Food Workers Union, Nga Ringa Tota

For immediate release

In the ANZAC tradition this week cleaners across Australia and New Zealand will be celebrating their first year of campaigning together for the right to a decent job - whichever country they work in.

The tradition continues with the Australian and New Zealand campaign against those who treat cleaners badly in both countries.

This Thursday actions in New Zealand and Australia will mark the one-year anniversary of the Clean Start campaign with cleaners in Auckland inviting NZ employer representatives to take the "Toilet Cleaning Challenge".

"We're inviting employers to clean toilets at the rates they require their staff to clean - in New Zealand that's about one toilet every 60 seconds, or the equivalent of 60 in an hour," Cleaner and SFWU delegate Teresa Tuilulu'u said.

This public campaign event will be held outside the TVNZ building on Hobson Street in Auckland at 12 noon today.

As the New Zealand Herald reported on Monday, the Clean Start: Fair Deal for Cleaners Campaign was launched to improve the jobs and lives of cleaners in Australia and New Zealand.

Michael Crosby, the Australian campaign director, said that Australians were increasingly interested in the way workers were treated in New Zealand.

"If you want to get employers treating workers properly in Australia you've got to make sure they're treating workers properly in New Zealand" he said.

But the response from New Zealand's major cleaning companies to these efforts to improve the cleaning industry had been disappointing when compared to that of Australian companies.

"New Zealand cleaning companies pay cleaners $11.30 per hour - just 5 cents above the minimum wage. In Australia, in a less regulated environment, cleaners pay rates are between $A17 and $A18 an hour." Said Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary John Rall.

"But it's not just the pay. Every day we get reports of serious problems occurring for cleaners"

"Whether it's the intention of the cleaning companies or not, they have to face up to the fact that cleaners are treated disrespectfully at their hands. They need to do something about it."

Cleaner and SWUM delegate Teresa Dululu's agreed with Mr Rall.

"Cleaners are being mistreated by supervisors, they are short changed on pay day, shifts are altered without the required notice, overtime is not properly paid for, and the work rates are so high cleaners feel forced to do extra work for no extra pay."

"It's our lives and our kids that are suffering. We feel that this is an urgent situation for our people. That's why we're campaigning."

These are the people who have made the treatment of cleaners a public issue. And they are not on their own. Many in New Zealand are listening, including Labour Minister Ruth Dyson who is looking at how the Clean Start campaign's principles can be put into practice in New Zealand to improve the lot of low paid frequently migrant workers.

Religious leaders around the country have come out in their support. The Property Council, representing building owners, is in the midst of writing its own set of principles - a guide for building owners on the fair tendering of cleaning contracts.

ENDS

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