Police called to shop centre rally

Date: 16 June 2003

A frightened shopping centre manager called for police support today when a rowdy rally of shopping centre cleaners made sure the manager understood that cleaners will be invisible no more.

The International Justice for Cleaners Day rally in Geelong was a surprising success when 120 LHMU cleaners marched through the city demanding that their voice be heard.

" I guess the manager of the centre was a bit surprised when about 120 cleaners showed up to say they had had enough, they wanted to be treated with respect," Jo-anne Schofield, LHMU Cleaners Union Assistant National Secretary said today.

" At the Westfield shopping centre in Geelong our members handed the local management a list of demands that the contract cleaner, who has the local tender, should respect the right of the cleaners to organise, to have their voice heard, and to have the union represent their interests.

" About 20 cops arrived at the rally and watched from a distance - but it was all peaceful, though very noisy at times because for the first time many of our people were coming out to be recognised.

Across the other side of Australia police were also called out when LHMU Cleaners Union members tried to march through a Westfield shopping centre.

Union members and members of the media were barred by police from entering the centre.

" Whether we are cleaners in Perth or in Geelong our people are saying we don't want to be the invisible workforce any more.

" Our members want Frank Lowy's people to sit down with us and draw up a protocol for a decent workplace," Jo-anne Schofield said.

Across the country cleaners today have been coming out to celebrate International Justice for Cleaners Day, and joining union cleaners across the other side of the Pacific who are also campaigning against the Australian-based multinational shopping mall giant Westfield.

Global e-mail protest

The Westfield e-mail system has been so overwhelmed that the company's IT people have begun deleting the messages.

" But they can't avoid the community voice on this issue. " It is a bit like the little boy who shuts his eyes and uses his fingers to plug up his ears to avoid the message. A big company like Westfield should be more mature," Jo-anne Schofield said.

Westfield should be a corporate citizenship leader

" Hard working cleaners perform a vital and valuable function in Westfield shopping centres. Cleaners and their families depend on jobs that are safe and wages that are fair.

" We believe that shopping centre owners have an ethical responsibility to ensure that the companies that they contact for cleaning services treat the cleaners fairly.

" That means:

- Respecting cleaners right to belong to their union;

- Award rates of pay including superannuation;

- Job security on change of contract;

- Compliance with health and safety laws;

- Proper support for injured workers.

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