   |
||
| Issue No 65 |  |
04 August 2000 |
|
|
|
NewsParlt House Cleaners' Fight Gets DirtyBy Andrew Casey
Limro Cleaning Services has got the lucrative contract to keep our Federal pollies offices clean and tidy. In a face saving measure Limro has now agreed to trial a new work program suggested to them by the Cleaners' Union, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU). But the union members are ready to continue the fight if the company gives the thumbs down to the trial. The Federal politicians, when they are in Canberra, are very sensitive about the cleanliness of their offices. The long winter Parliamentary sitting break is about to come to an end, so both the union and the company want the problem fixed before the politicians arrive. " The company it seems has been in breach of their contractual obligations to Parliament House, but it is the workforce which is taking the brunt to fix up their emplyer's mess," Yvette Berry, the LHMU organiser in the ACT said. LHMU members were angry and disappointed that Limro had unilaterally stopped talking to the union and their workforce about changed hours of employment. " They stopped talking to us and unilaterally notified at least 4 cleaners of drastic changes to the hours of their employment ... from a 6.00 am to 2.30pm shift to a midnight to 8.30 am shift." Limro Cleaning Services wanted the change to take place because for the last 12 years they had been breaching their contract obligations and that there are Occupational Health and Safety risks to Parliament house occupants if cleaning is not done before 9.00 am each day. "We were not surprised to learn that Limro had beached their contract," Yvette said. " When we had an order issued by the Industrial Relations Commission in 1996 stating that they must provide replacements for cleaners on leave they breached it and pocketed the extra money". "There is a lot of tax payers money at question here. "Our members are concerned about Occupational Health and Safety risks for Parliament House occupants. They are certainly concerned about OH&S risks for themselves 'cause they are often required to do the work of two or three people. " Limro are breaching the Occupational Health and Safety Act by not ensuring a Safe work environment. When we asked Limro to identify the risks Limro refused. "The two rich owners of this company ignore their legal obligations and get richer at the expense of a safe and secure job for our members," Ms Berry said.
|
   Interview: Hobart PerspectiveHaving held senior positions in both wings of the labour movement, Martin Ferguson went to Hobart with more perspective than most. He shares a bit of it with Workers Online. Politics: Love-in In a Cold ClimateIn our exclusive campaign diary we bring you the sights, sounds and smells of the ALP's Hobart conference. Unions: Passion PlaysCanadian union campaigner Sharon Costello outlines how British Columbia nurses are using the arts to activate their membership base. International: Spanish Telecom Builds Employee PortalThe prospect of on-line access for unions to company employees was outlined to Union Network International by the head of Spanish Telecommunications giant. Telefonica. History: Husky Girls and the Female PsycheWhen women entered the workforce during World War Two their male supervisors were given these simple tips to get the most out of them. Satire: Communism Vindicated by Successful Collective MeetingTonight's meeting of the Marxism-Leninism Now Collective demonstrated the continuing relevance and ultimate success of communist principles, according to the Collective's Secretary, George Addison, 44. Review: Following the MoneyA new book looks at the role the bosses have played in the changing industrial relations framework.
Notice Board View entire latest issue
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
![[ Home ]](/images/nv_home.gif){kind=small} ![[ Notice Board ]](/images/nv_board.gif){kind=small} ![[ Search ]](/images/nv_search.gif){kind=small} ![[ Previous Issues ]](/images/nv_previous.gif){kind=small} ![[ Latest Issue ]](/images/nv_latest.gif){kind=small} |
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/65/news42_house.htmlLast Modified: 15 Nov 2005 [ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ] LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW |
|
![[Workers Online]](/images/logo_small.gif){kind=logo}
![[Social Change Online]](/images/sco_logo.gif){kind=logo}