MORE WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRES TO FACE STRIKE ACTION

Today, Glad and Assetlink cleaners in shopping centres have voted in favour of taking strike action, with an overwhelming 97% (Glad) and 88%  (Assetlink) yes vote.

These strikes will be happening alongside Spotless cleaners who are currently taking action in many shopping centres around the country already.

Louise Tarrant, National Secretary of United Voice, the cleaners’ union, said that the fact that Glad, Assetlink and Spotless cleaners across the country will be taking strike action was indicative of the changes that needed to happen in the cleaning industry.

“Cleaners are taking a stand for cleaner shopping centres that are more hygienic and safe for the public. There’s a race to the bottom in contract cleaning, with shopping centre owners cutting cleaning contracts, and contractors following suit and cutting bids.”

“What does this actually mean? It means that there’s no money in cleaning contracts—no money to pay staff to actually do the work and no money to pay decent wages.”

“Take Westfield. Westfield has cut its cleaning contracts. That’s right—one of the wealthiest companies in our entire country has slashed cleaning contracts, forcing families already living on the poverty line to lose hours and lose their workmates due to cost cutting. Some have even had to give up their homes as they can no longer afford payments.”

“If Westfield is truly interested in philanthropy and giving back to its communities, it can do so here and now—it can start by taking its share of responsibility for the situation cleaners are in and for the state its shopping centres will be in.”

“Cleaners are a workforce that’s made up of low paid, vulnerable workers. They are now standing up and having to fight large cleaning giants and asking large corporations to notice these invisible workers. These are business and corporations who make more in a week than a cleaner will in an entire year.”

“What does this say about the state of our country and our economy?”