Cleaners vote to strike at Chadstone
23 Nov 2011
By GREG GLIDDON Waverly Leader CHADSTONE Shopping Centre cleaners have voted overwhelmingly for strike action during the Christmas shopping rush.
Just under 95 per cent of cleaners working for contracter Spotless voted for strike action during the festive season as they fight for what they see as safe workloads and fair pay.
United Voice Cleaners Union state secretary Jess Walsh said its research showed many workers were being pushed to breaking point
“Right now, hundreds of cleaners are condemned to poverty wages and brutal workloads,” she said.
“Cleaners have no option but to take strike action to get Spotless to take them seriously, which is why they have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action.”
A spokeswoman for Spotless said shopping centres would remain clean and tidy before, during and after the holiday and Christmas period.
“If industrial action takes place, all shifts will be fully staffed and shopping centres will remain open for business,” she said.
“Any industrial action will only impact striking cleaners with lost wages.
“Sadly, the union continues to target Spotless, which offers job security, training and legislative entitlements while other cleaners languish on cash-in-hand and wages less than the award.”
She said the union’s campaign should be directed at the real issues facing the industry, such as the thousands of cleaners paid under the award through sham pay arrangements.
Ms Walsh said workers believed Spotless was in a position to sit down and bargain with workers.
“Spotless boasts that it pays the award minimum to its hard-working cleaners, but the award is meant to be no more than a safety net for workers who are not in a position to bargain with their employers,” Ms Walsh said
Ms Walsh also called on centre management to become involved to help sort out the problems.
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