Fair Pay increase good start but ...

Date: 02 October 2008

Clean Start Sydney demo

While US bankers may be wondering how they will pay for their yachts and island resorts cleaners across Australia are more focused on paying their rents.

From 1 October most office cleaners around Australia will receive the $0.57 per hour Fair Pay Commission pay increase but the LHMU - The cleaners' union - says this increase falls far short of ending poverty for cleaners.

"Cleaners work an average of 15 hours and earn $302 per week. On average cleaners will get an extra $8.55 from the Fair Pay Commission's increase. Cleaners welcome this increase but it isn't enough to end the cycle of poverty and address unreasonable workloads they live with every day," says Louise Tarrant, LHMU National Secretary.

"Contract cleaning is in crisis and cleaners are feeling it. That's why we are on negotiating a new Clean Start collective agreement with cleaning firms. It's the only way to achieve fair wages and working conditions," says Tarrant.

Responsible contractors signing up

Canberra cleaner Christine Wagland says "Rose Cleaning Services has signed up to make sure their cleaners are treated properly at work. This agreement means these cleaners will get decent pay, realistic hours, job security and respect for their work.

"We are waiting to hear what other cleaning firms around the country are doing. I work for one of Canberra's largest cleaning contractors and it's time they did the right thing too. We're prepared to stand together to win fair jobs and decent pay for all office cleaners," says Wagland.

Hobart cleaner Brenda Krushka says "Right now, I don't have enough money to live on. If I was on my own I would get by, but I have family to provide for, so it's hard to make ends meet. I try to pick up extra hours and more work where I can and do as much overtime as possible but because of this I don't have a life and I'm always stressed.

"I'm working at nights and trying to sleep through the day. I'm often too tired so there's no real time with my family. I have injured myself several times trying to rush to get the job done because the workloads are really stressful.

Brisbane cleaner Stephen Duggan shows his support for Clean StartBrisbane cleaner Stephen Duggan shows his support for Clean Start"The fair pay commission increase isn't enough - it won't solve the problems in cleaning because fair wages for us is not just about the cost of living going up. It is about having a proper weekly wage and right now we don't get enough hours to live on.

"I think it's time for cleaning contractors in Tasmania to do the right thing so we can have decent pay, realistic hours, job security and respect for their work," says Krushka.

For further information

Contact:	Nada Vlatko
Union:	LHMU
Contact Mobile:	0425 242 691
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au/

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