Kerrie-Ann Whitfield, Delma Ferguson and Denise Jack from Cessnock were among the hundreds of cleaners to rally over cleaner contracts.

No cleaners, no classes

By Kerri Carr

The cleaners' strike, called for four days last week, caused schools in some parts of the state to close their doors to all or some students on occupational health and safety and duty of care grounds for several days.

Cleaners went on strike over the conditions in the proposed new contracts (see sidepanel for cleaners' demands). The new contract will not commence until October 2005, however, the critical decisions are being made now.

Some schools sent notes home advising that between 9am September 7 and midnight September 10 no cleaning or waste collection would take place, resulting in health concerns for students and staff.

Accordingly, parents were advised to make alternative arrangements for the supervision of their children on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Some schools were closed to all students and others allowed senior students to attend. These schools included Batemans Bay High School, Batemans Bay Public School, Sunshine Bay Public School, Moruya High School, Moruya Public School, Westfield Sports High School, Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Riverside High School and Elderslie High School.

After making an assessment on September 8, Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre began the process of closing down the school until cleaning recommenced.

Teachers at Auburn Girls High School collected money to assist the school's cleaners while they were on strike.

Of particular concern to the cleaners is guaranteeing that their work hours will not be cut. On the eve of the strike the State Government agreed to written guarantees of employment under the new contracts, but made no offer to school cleaners guaranteeing their working hours.

Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (Cleaners Union) State Secretary Annie Owens said: " At every previous contract change the Government has agreed to write into the tender document a specific requirement that contractors will protect the hours of these low-waged, largely part-time workers," Ms Owens said.

"A Labor Government should back job security -- especially for low-wage workers earning as little as $13.50 an hour.

"There is no specific offer that individual cleaners will be secure in keeping their current hours of work. We are still waiting for the Government to respond to this one key issue in the dispute."

LHMU members met with Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca, but meeting delegate Kath Haddon said: "On the key issue, protecting the hours of part-time workers so that we can protect our pay packet, well we didn't get anywhere."

As schools assessed whether or not they would open to students, striking cleaners travelled through the night to converge on the Premier's Office on September 8.

Cleaners gathered in Hyde Park and marched past Parliament House on their way to Governor Macquarie Tower in Farrer Place.

The last time that school cleaners walked off the job was 11 years ago.

Cleaners' demands

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September 2004 contents