Maintaining an ongoing message that cleaners ‘employed’ by many sub-contractors are much worse off than its award wage paid cleaners, Spotless released another PR release mid-June.
‘Over the last 18 months the United Voice union has used shock tactics that are disrespectful to cleaners as they threaten to leave shopping centres unclean,’ stated the Spotless release.
‘Unlike a large number of cleaning companies that resort to paying wages that are less than the award*,
‘Spotless relies on having qualified and adequately paid employees who receive all of their entitlements including weekend and public holiday rates, casual allowances and improved superannuation.
‘However, the United Voice union is curiously silent when it comes to representing employees that are hired by unregistered or fly-by-night companies that fail to pay award wages, superannuation and other legal entitlements including a safe workplace. These companies are known as sham operators.
‘In addition to the base award rate, many Spotless cleaners receive penalty rates, overtime and extra allowances for certain types of work, averaging an hourly rate of $21 per hour or more. Cleaners have received three wage increases in the past 18 months. A fourth wage increase will flow to Spotless cleaners following Fair Work Australia’s 1 July 2012 increase to the Cleaning Services Award.
‘Spotless believes that the Modern Award, introduced by the current Government, should be the focus of any wage campaign to ensure all cleaners -not just shopping centre staff -benefit equally.
‘The award is overseen by the industrial umpire, Fair Work Australia. This provides a pay rate above the minimum wage rate. It remains the best way to achieve equitable wages and conditions for all cleaners working across all sectors and industries and not just shopping centre cleaners.
‘Spotless contracts are priced according to the award. The 1 July changes will be immediately passed on to employees. As a major employer of working Australians, Spotless invests in ongoing occupational health
and safety training and support with over 500 Spotless cleaners currently undertaking traineeships.’
* Cleaning modern award rates – Base Rate $17.05; Part Time Day Rate $19.61; Permanent Night Shift $22.17; Saturday Shifts $25.58; Sunday Shifts $34.10; and Public Holiday $42.63.