
Issue No 5		19 March 1999

News

Cleaners Time Out Hours Cut

The Menzies cleaning contractor has dropped plans to cut working hours by 30 per cent after a strong Union campaign in NSW.


	Menzies cleaners at Liverpool Street courthouse: (from left) Stella Karagcorgoes, Roy Richards and Sam Epsimos.

LHMU Branch Secretary Chris Raper said Menzies had now agreed that there will be no forced cuts in hours.

"Menzies backed off after members strongly rejected the cut to hours," Chris said.

"At well attending union meeting in Menzies three zones around NSW, the vote was unanimous to strike if the cuts went ahead."

Government Support

The NSW State Government also intervened to support the cleaners against Menzies cuts.

This was an important factor in convincing Menzies to withdraw the proposed changes.

Other features of the settlement with Menzies include:

� The company will consult with cleaners and the Union about any proposed changes in the future

� When cleaners are absent, Menzies must employ other cleaners to maintain site hours.

Must cover absences

Raper said LHMU members should insist that Menzies bring in relief cleaners when regular staff are absent.

"This is a good outcome for LHMU members," he said. "It shows that when cleaners stand up for themselves in a well-organised campaign, we can protect conditions."

Menzies was one of three companies to win contracts with the State Government in the recent tender. The contracts run for five years from January, 1999.

Of the eight zones tendered out, Menzies won three, Tempo won four and Broadlex got one zone.

Both Tempo and Broadlex have agreed to no forced cuts to hours.

The Union was able to ensure cleaners' interests were taken into account during the tender process.

"One of the good things about the current NSW Government," Chris Raper said, "is that they listen to the viewpoint of the LHMU and cleaners."

He said ongoing Union action had protected important conditions since the 1994 privatisation of the Government Cleaning Service by the previous Coalition Government.

"We have been able to ensure long service leave is rolled over and a sick leave safety net is provided," Raper said.

"Before the recent tender round, we expressed our concern to the NSW Government that cleaners' hours needed to be maintained.

"We know what it takes"

Roy Richards believes cleaning contractors should consult their workers before trying to cut hours.

"We're the ones who know what it takes to keep a site clean", said Roy, who works for Menzies at Liverpool Street courthouse in central Sydney.

Roy was shocked when Menzies proposed a 30% cut to hours. "There's no way we could keep this place properly clean if our hours were cut," he said.

"And a lot of cleaners need all the hours they can get, just to pay the bills."

Roy said more cleaners need to join the Union if conditions are to be protected. "Without the Union, we'd be sitting ducks."

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Issue 5 contents

Interview: Towards An Information International
FIET general secretary Phillip Jennings talks about the development of the Union Network International and its potential to organise globally.

Unions: The Integral Price of Loyalty
Workers at Integral Energy are asking for their share of the fruits of power reform.

History: A Very Public History
Historian Ray Markey and Public Service Association General Secretary Janet Good take a look at the union�s first 100 years.

Review: Bullworth - Beatty�s Political Rap
Warren Beatty makes some gutsy calls in his new film about a politician who, when all else fails, tries the truth.

Campaign Diary: The Ultimate Punt
As the leaders slug it through the final weeks of the campaign, the armchair critics get their chance to work their pet election theories.

» Streamlined ILO To Focus On �Decent� Work

» Kelty Sees Global Minimum Wage On Horizon

» International Superunion Given Go-Ahead

» FIET Takes Hammer To Debt Wall

» Is The World Bank Anti-Union?

» Lectures Cancelled Over University Pay Claim

» 100 Reasons Why Public Sector Unionism Will Survive

» Maccas Death Call

» Cleaners Time Out Hours Cut