MP backs NSW school cleaners

Date: 22 April 2010

Member for Mulgoa Diane Beamer has been the first MP to support NSW school cleaners in their bid to win a fair cleaning contract from the state government.

The government is expected to put the schools cleaning contract out to tender shortly.
LHMU activist and Willmot Public School cleaner Paul McCrae, together with fellow cleaners, Remy and Julia Dussault met with MP Beamer early this week. And as the first ones to lobby their local MP, Paul says the meeting went "pretty well".

"She was fantastic," he says. "We just went through the issues. I spoke about our long service leave and bringing that over when different contractors take over. Remy spoke about sick leave and Julia about funding."

"She was quite interested in what we were saying and had no hesitation in signing on to support us ... [The Minister] said she would put the word around."

In fact, Paul has been busy giving out support postcards to teachers and principals, and even parents, at his school. He says having school cleaners out there campaigning makes them more visible in the school community. "[School cleaners] want to have the time and resources ... This many get [teachers and principals] to see us in a different light - not just someone who cleans."

Paul, Remy and Julia will also be meeting with MP Karyn Paluzanno later this week and hope the meeting will go as well.

School cleaners will be knocking on MPs' doors throughout Term 2. Want to support NSW school cleaners? Contact the Member Service Centre on 1800 805 027 to pick up a few support postcards and get family and friends to sign one!

For further information

Contact:	Mark Boyd, Secretary
Union:	LHMU NSW
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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