Office Cleaners Threaten To Cause A Stink Over Bitter Pay Dispute

The Age

Friday September 26, 2008

Ben Schneiders, Workplace Reporter

MELBOURNE'S office workers could be swimming in trash in the coming weeks, with hundreds of the city's low-paid cleaners considering a strike across the CBD.

Long-running talks between contract cleaning companies and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union have been derailed recently and union state secretary Jess Walsh said "all options were now on the table".

A strike, which would be the first mass action by cleaners, would cause hygiene problems in offices and could lead to anger from thousands of workers and employers.

Cleaners have been pushing to have their shifts extended from as little as two hours to a minimum of four hours and to receive better pay and job security. It would be the first industry-wide deal for cleaners.

One cleaner, who spoke to The Age anonymously, said she and many of her colleagues were furious and were prepared to strike over the issue.

The campaign has been backed by Catholic Bishop Hilton Deakin, who offered his "whole-hearted" support if there was a strike. He described cleaners as "an invisible workforce".

Ms Walsh said the union had backed a deal that secured the improved conditions and pay rises of up to 5%, but the contractors then withdrew their offer at the last minute.

However, Rodney Barnes, president of the Building Service Contractors Association of Australia, said there had been no withdrawal and there was still a "heartbeat" in the nationwide talks.

But uncertainty around industrial relations was causing problems, he said, with the award system being overhauled, while Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard had also flagged new bargaining rules for industries such as cleaning.

Mr Barnes said contractors, which typically operate on tiny profit margins, were squeezed between the building owners who paid them and their employees.

He said he was hopeful of a positive outcome.

CBD cleaner Helen Izvernariu, 51, said conditions in the industry were tough, with some cleaners having to work two short shifts a day, causing disruptions to time with family and friends.

She said that in a average shift, they would clean the equivalent of about four houses.

"The workload is very,very big," she said.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home