Report and agitate for improved cleaning services

Schools and TAFEs should report all instances of inadequate cleaning, writes LENORE HANKINSON.

Clean classrooms, playgrounds and workspaces are a basic right for students and teachers in public schools and TAFE colleges. The Department of Education and Training (DET) maintains that standards of school and TAFE cleaning have reached impressive levels since the rather poor results at the beginning of privatised, contract cleaning. Sadly this is not what is being reported at Association meetings and anecdotal evidence from Federation Representatives and Women's Contacts.

In public schools and TAFEs the numbers of cleaners has dwindled on most sites and many cleaners are under intense pressure to cover as wide an area as possible in as short a time as possible.

There has also been incredible pressure on schools to make up for the shortfall in government funding to rent out performance spaces, school halls and the like to increase revenue. Some schools employ cleaning staff from their global budget to cope with these demands. This is an unacceptable practice born of desperation.

Only by sustained reporting of any shortfalls of standards can any improvements be made in the system.

Schools should be aware via DET's June 2007 Cleaning Bulletin that all cleaning contractors are required to ensure that schools are cleaned to the required performance standards by 8am each school day. The 8am time can only be varied by agreement with the school principal and must be documented in writing and included in the contractor's management system.

Cleaning performance standards are detailed in the Guide to the School Cleaning Contract 2006-2010 which is available on the DET intranet at https://detwww.nsw.edu.au/assetmanagement/maintain/mld cleaning guide 23-03-06.pdf.

If cleaners are absent then the cleaning contractor must replace all hours lost by absent cleaners. The school principal and the cleaning contractor should set up a form of communication whereby the replacement hours can be notified and arranged to the satisfaction of both parties.

If there are complaints about the quality of the cleaning they should be reported to the School Cleaning Hotline on (02) 9561 1245 or recorded as a complaint on WEBCLEAN. There should also be a Cleaning Communications Book and subsequent discussion with the cleaning contractors area manager.

Unfortunately most of us will have had the experience where, after recording a complaint, the cleaner who is often over-worked or under-equipped, is taken to task and the relationship between the classroom teacher who reported the problem sours and goodwill is broken. More sensitivity is required of contract cleaner supervisors to understand that the cleaning staff are part of the school community and that commercial premises cleaning protocols are not always suitable to school sites.

Some schools have complained that schools have not been given enough notice for carpet cleaning. Many schools request staff and students assist with placing furniture and resources on desks but it should be remembered that the responsibility for moving furniture and teaching resources remains the responsibility of the cleaning contractor. Staff should not be press-ganged to fill a contractor's labour deficit.

Each term a formal meeting between the cleaning contractor and the school principal is scheduled under the terms of the cleaning contract and a formal agenda is discussed. At least two business days notice should be given for this meeting.

Federation is represented on the Cleaning Communications Group Committee which discusses issues of concern to schools and the cleaning contracts. This committee has representatives from the Primary Principals Association, Secondary Principals Council, the Department of Commerce, a representative from the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, the Cleaning Services Coordination unit, the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations, the Contract Manager South West Institute of TAFE, the Facilities Management manager and Asset Services senior advisor. It meets once a term. Items that need to be raised should be forwarded to your local Organiser for reference to this group after the above avenues have been exhausted.

If you have concerns about the level of cleaning in your school or TAFE college you should contact your local Organiser or telephone Lenore Hankinson on (02) 9217 2100. There is also advice provided on the Federation website.

Lenore Hankinson is an Industrial Officer.

For further information

September 2007 contents