Plaza cleaners threaten strike

The list of shopping centres vulnerable to strikes includes Werribee Plaza and Hoppers Crossing shopping centre. Chadstone shopping centre felt the brunt of action last Wednesday, when hundreds of cleaners occupied the food court of the centre.

The state secretary of cleaners' union United Voice, Jess Walsh, could not say which centres would be targeted by the continuing action. But she said the inability of Spotless to conduct talks with its cleaners had pushed them to the brink.

"Cleaners have asked Spotless to sit down and talk with them about a solution, but Spotless has refused. So cleaners have been left with no choice but to strike," she said.

"Spotless' refusal to even talk with the cleaners who prop up its healthy bottom line means that shoppers may be wading through some stomach-churning scenes at their favourite malls this Christmas." A range of actions could be undertaken by cleaners over the holiday period, including not cleaning toilet blocks or targeting certain areas such as food courts.

Spotless fought back against the union's claims, with company spokeswoman Kerrina Lawrence adamant that shopping centres cleaned by Spotless would remain clean and tidy before, during and after the festive season.

"Spotless continues to abide by the umpire's rules with its cleaners receiving three wage increases in the past 18 months, including a wage increase on July 1." But Ms Walsh disputed Spotless' claims of recent pay rises and maintained the typical wage of $16.57 an hour was well below par for "brutal workloads".

http://www.wyndhamweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/plaza-cleaners-threaten-strike/2399182.aspx