Retail Clean Start campaign starts

Date: 20 October 2010

To mark Anti-Poverty Week, cleaners from schools and CBD commercial buildings lent their support to shopping centre cleaners to launch the Clean Start campaign in the retail sector.

Cleaners were also joined by members of the community. Evan Ellis, Social Justice Co-ordinator of the Parramatta Diocese of the Catholic Church was one of them. He said the church was a strong supporter of the Clean Start campaign. "This campaign doesn't ask for anything new so much as restoring what is already yours. It's about getting fair and realistic working conditions, ... just pay ... and making sure you have a say, as employees in your own affairs."

Retail cleaner Sanjeev Bagga then told his story of how he got injured at work because he had to empty heavy bins full of rubbish into the compactor. Then he lost his job because the contractor changed.Sanjeev at retail launch

"Now, my insurance won't cover me because I'm not actually employed," he said. "I can't work because my back is so bad, but I can't get treatment because I can't work."

He said Clean Start would make a big difference to him and all cleaners. "It would mean cleaners like me will have job security. If contractors change, we know we always have a job."

"All cleaners are doing their best. We need the proper respect. We should be treated properly."

He said it was a great feeling to have all cleaners united and supporting each other. "It's great. We should be united to fight for our rights."

LHMU NSW President Rebecca Reilly said Clean Start was about lifting cleaners out of poverty while ensuring proper cleaning standards are in place in shopping centres.

"Cleaners work long hours doing a job many of us don't like doing at home for very low pay, in an industry with very high injury rates, and with little or no job security. Many employees have reported to the union office they earn as little as $10 an hour cash in hand.

"As a result of the squeezing of contracts workers have grave concerns for the health and safety of the general public. Time constraints mean some workers are forced to clean entire floors, including toilets, every 15 minutes. This pressure means they can't deliver the cleaning and health standards they want to which in turn has potential consequences for everyone.

Clean Start has already made its mark in commercial cleaning when earlier this year, cleaners in private and government buildings in the CBD received increased pay, minimum hours and guaranteed job security.

"The shopping centre cleaning industry is currently in disarray and we need to ensure that the sector improves not only for our members but the good of the general public as well."

For further information

Contact:	Rebecca Reilly, President
Union:	LHMU NSW
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/branches/nsw

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