Cleaners secure their hours

Job security for cleaners under the new government cleaning contract has been resolved after three months of campaigning.

Cleaners will be offered a job on their current hours.

In September, the school cleaners went on a four-day strike over the conditions in the proposed contract, which did not guarantee their current hours. Some schools closed for several days, due to occupational health and safety concerns.

On September 8 striking cleaners travelled through the night to converge on the Premier's Office. They gathered in Hyde Park, marched past Parliament House on their way to Governor Macquarie to voice their anger.

In a letter to Federation General Secretary Barry Johnson, NSW Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union Secretary Annie Owens said there had also been significant progress on commitments that the overall hours in the contract are not expected to reduce.

"There are a range of other issues which we will continue to work on," Ms Owens added.

One issue is that schools will not be guaranteed the same hours of cleaner time. Procedures will be negotiated for the reduction of hours.

Ms Owens wished to acknowledge the assistance of affiliates and the Labor Council in assisting cleaners in the dispute.

"We had great support from the Teachers Federation," she said.

Ms Owens thanked Federation for its assistance in raising the issue with parliamentarians.

"Many of the Labor MPs were staunch supporters of the cleaners and greatly assisted us in promoting an understanding of cleaners' issues within the parliament. It is heartening to see so many of the MPs who followed through on commitments they had made in meetings with cleaners and work to ensure that they got a fair income."

It will be possible for cleaners' hours to be changed, but only if an agreed protocol is followed. Federation and members will need to continue to fight to ensure that cleaners have enough time to clean our schools properly.

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November 2004 contents