Premier congratulates LHMU cleaners

Date: 30 October 2010

Today, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally congratulated LHMU cleaners for their campaign in winning a portable long service leave scheme.

In making the announcement this morning, Premier Keneally said the government will introduce legislation to establish a portable long service leave scheme in the "next sitting week".

"This is providing to cleaners the same sort of opportunities, the same sort of entitlements that workers in other types of industries have," the Premier said. "And [it's] recognising the unique structure of the cleaning industry and responding to it by providing cleaners with the entitlement to long service leave even though the contractor might change."

Premier Keneally acknowledged the activism of LHMU member and school cleaner at Granville South High Judith Hopkinson "who kick started" the long service leave campaign and "all of the cleaners in the state who got behind it and worked with her and ultimately with the government to put this legislation together".
Judith with NSW Premier

Contract cleaners have been lobbying the state government through the Clean Start and Keep it Clean campaigns for some time.

LHMU NSW Secretary Mark Boyd welcomed today's announcement, which means a scheme will be in place for cleaners by 1 July 2011. "A portable long service leave scheme is a great result for the contract cleaning sector and has been a long time coming."

"It means cleaners like Judith, who has been cleaning at Granville South High for 22 years - in the same school, doing the same job - but has been through five changes of contract will not have to start all over again if a new contractor takes over."

As Premier Keneally put it: "This is part of an ongoing campaign to improve wages and conditions for cleaners ... This is the last and most critical piece of reform ... It's the type of social justice work ... that a Labor Government does and we're proud to stand together to do it with [cleaners] and the LHMU."

Mark says this win goes to show what is possible when cleaners get organised and active; and is a great example for cleaners who have just launched the Clean Start campaign in shopping centres across Australia.

Judith was joined today by fellow cleaners Homebush Boys High cleaner Milton Mollina and Clean Start activist Khaled Sarker.

For further information

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

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