Help roll back unfair conditions

Teachers can help resist the unfair working conditions placed on school cleaners, writes JOHN IRVING.

Government schools in NSW are cleaned under a contract administered by the Department of Commerce. There are more than 6000 cleaners working under the contract. Most cleaners are women, most are over 45 years of age and for a large proportion, English is their second language. They are proud of the work they do and they want to deliver for their school community. More than 3000 NSW Government sites including police stations and courthouses are cleaned under the contract. Schools and TAFEs make up 70 per cent of the sites.

Since the privatisation of the government cleaning service by the Greiner Government in 1994, cleaners have been employed by private cleaning companies under two successive contracts. The Carr Government is now working on the third contract.

Cleaners have a high level of workplace injury, experiencing rates nearly three times the average incidence compared to other industries. Time pressure is among the causes of injury. Many injuries are due to rushing to get the job done.

Since privatisation, the number of hours at cleaning sites under the contract has been significantly reduced. For example, Matraville High School has lost approximately 100 hours per week since privatisation. A report in 2000 found that the productivity targets of a major contractor were unrealistic. The cleaners are saying: "No more cuts to hours!"

When the government changes contractors, the cleaners are not able to carry over their sick leave credits to the new contractor. Their ability to carry over long service leave is also limited. Many were born overseas and would like to have some long service leave to visit their homelands but most will never get that leave, despite working on the same site for many years. In the last contract change, more than 3000 cleaners had a change of employer.

There is an opportunity now to remedy this unfairness.

What can our members do?

1. Lobby the Premier and Ministers for Commerce and Education and Training about ensuring the contract contains no more cuts to hours and where the contractor changes, job security and transfer of entitlements are maintained.
2. Be available to talk to the cleaners in your school if they ask to meet with you.
3. Sign the petition soon to be available in schools.

John Irving is the Assistant General Secretary (Schools).

Petition

For further information

November 2003 contents