Westfield malls and cleaners

Date: 12 April 2005

Westfield shopping malls in Canberra will play a key role in delivering ethical standards to the contract cleaning industry in our national capital, ACT LHMU Cleaners Union Assistant Secretary, Lyndal Ryan said today.

" For this initiative to work we need property owners and managers to embrace the idea that it is not only in their commercial interest to prefer Code Cleaning contractors, but it is also the ethical thing to do," Ms Ryan said at the launch of the ACT Cleaning Code at the Canberra Hyatt Hotel today.

Standing up for Ethical standards

" These will be corporations that want clean buildings without the use of dodgy employment methods, unsafe working conditions and sweated labor.

Key Westfield people attending this important launch included: Mr Michael Swibel, National Facilities Manager, Mr Steve Roach local Manager for Westfield Belconnen, and Mr Marc Harris Belconnen Mall Facilitites Manager.

Click here for more info about the Contract Cleaning Code

Working with other groups to deliver healthy and Green workplace environments

The ACT's ground-breaking cleaning code will create a national precedent - because of the way it delivers high standards of cleaning services, in the most environmentally sound means possible.

Struggling to get low-waged workers' rights

" Working in isolation on thousands of work sites across Canberra many worked in unsafe conditions.

" The alliances that we have built with the support from community and most recently government will see a new beginning for the industry."

Key community groups backed Minister's launch of the Code

The Code is supported by the cleaning industry's national employer association the Building Services Contractors Association of Australia.

At the launch were key community groups concerned about ending the exploitation of low-waged immigrant women workers including representatives from UnionsACT, ACOSS, ACT Multicultural Council and ACT Labor Lawyers.

" The ACT Cleaning Industries Code of Best Employment Practices provides us with this fresh start," Ms Ryan said.

For further info:

Lyndal Ryan - LHMU Cleaners Union - 02 61201 202 or 041 164 3982

Rodney Barnes - President BSCAA - 0403 383 700

For further information

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

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