School cleaners in the frontline

Date: 10 December 2004

LHMU NSW Secretary, Annie Owens

School cleaners - just like their school teacher work colleagues - are being put onto the frontline in new battles against looming green issues and new health issues a NSW conference on Cleaners and the Health of our Schools was told today.

" School cleaners need to be involved in the health battle against allergies and mysterious childhood conditions, such as ADHD and ADD, because of the increasing speculation that chemical triggers in cleaning products may be the cause of the spreading of these diseases and allergies.

" Our industry must listen closely to the demands of parents that we use the safest products in the school environment, even if this sometimes mans the most effective products cannot be used," Annie Owens NSW LHMU Cleaners Union Secretary said.

" The role of schools in the modern community always changes and evolves. Along with these changes come new demands put on our members to adapt to upgraded health standards and upgraded environmental standards.

" We are ready to meet those demands - but they will best be met if the voice of our frontline cleaners are heard loudly and clearly," Annie Owens said.

Ms Owens was speaking to more than 100 people participating in the Cleaners Conference, including senior Government decision-makers and leaders in the contract cleaning industry.

Expressions of Interest for the contracting out of cleaning services in 2005 for state schools, TAFEs and other government institutions close next week.

" Our membership wants to be given the resources and the quality time to ensure that the school environment causes minimum harm to students and teachers.

" Unfortunately there is, in some quarters, a tendency to ignore our voice because it comes from low-waged women workers who, because they are often recent arrivals to our shores, have trouble getting their message understood.

" But it is a voice that must be heard and listened to respectfully, and given the opportunity to be involved," Ms Owens said.

" That's why this conference can be a new start to effectively meet these new demands which are not just faced by our membership but also the cleaning contractors and state government departments represented here today.

" We do have an opportunity with the new tender round to forge new partnerships and build relationships which protect our students, our teachers and the general community.

The LHMU proudly represents around 130,000 hard working women and men throughout Australia

More comment: Annie Owens LHMU NSW Secretary, 02 8204 7200 or 0425 214 881

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	8204 7206
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]