Cleaners at Parliament House banning bathroom and toilet cleaning

Parliament House cleaners are taking industrial action today in their battle for fair pay. The cleaners are banning the cleaning of all bathrooms and toilet facilities at Parliament House this week, says United Voice (UV).

UnitedVoice_CthCleaners-V2Parliament House cleaners are taking industrial action today in their battle for fair pay. The cleaners are banning the cleaning of all bathrooms and toilet facilities at Parliament House this week, says United Voice (UV).

‘The industrial action comes in the wake of the shocking “Bronwyngate” revelations of Government waste and excess. The ban begins at 6.30am today, Monday 17 August and ends on 6.30am on Saturday, 22 August,’ states the UV website post.

“The contrast between the Government’s harsh treatment of their hard-working cleaners and their personal self-indulgence and waste of taxpayers’ money could not be more stark,” notes Lyndal Ryan, UV ACT secretary.

“While this excess has been going on, Parliament House cleaners’ pay remains frozen at the July 2012 rate. This pay freeze is a direct result of the Government’s dumping of the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines.

“The Coalition’s treatment of government cleaners is unfair and unwarranted. Frankly, it’s not a good look. More than three years without a pay increase is too long. The cleaners want a pay increase of under $1.80 per hour to bring their pay to a modest $22.90 per hour.

“I call on Tony Smith, the new speaker of the House of Representatives, to do the right thing and authorise a pay increase for the cleaners.

“The Government is facing a difficult time right now. Fixing the cleaners’ wages is an opportunity for them to do the right thing and to show that they are learning from their mistakes,” Ryan points out.

Parliament House cleaners are employed by Limro Cleaning, which is contracted by the Department of Parliamentary Services to provide cleaning services at Parliament House.

UV says Parliament House cleaners held a 24 hour strike on 15 June, 2015, International Cleaners’ Day, in support of their claim for their first pay increase in three years.

‘The pay of cleaners of Commonwealth buildings has been cut by an average $6,837 a year as a direct result of the Abbott Government’s dumping of the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines on 1 July 2014,’ the Union adds.

www.unitedvoice.org.au

 

 

 

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