The Building Service Contractors Association of Australia (BSCAA) and Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) today jointly released a new Code of Conduct for Fair Service Provision in Shopping Centres.
Developed jointly by the BSCAA and SCCA, the Code expands on and replaces the previous SCCA Fair Contracting Principles adopted by the SCCA in November 2006. The new Code relfects current industry best practices in the fair treatment of cleaners and the provision of a safe, clean and respectful work environment.
As stated in the press release, the Code will be used in future cleaning tenders issued by SCCA members and cleaning contractors will be required to demonstrate their ability to adhere to the specific provisions of the Code.
“This new Code reiterates our strong commitment to the fair treatment of cleaners and we are pleased to have taken the lead in working cooperatively with the cleaning industry on this important industry initiative”, chairman of the SCCA, Steven Sewell, said today.
“Our cleaners are critical to our industry’s success and this Code clearly outlines our commitment to going beyond minimum industrial requirements to treat them fairly and with respect, ” said BSCAA president, Terry Corby.
“One aim of the new Code is to reflect the non-wage components of United Voice’s Clean Start Agreement, the centrepiece of the union’s unfair and unsustainable industrial campaign which seeks above award wage payments and entitlements,” said Corby.
“We strongly believe that United Voice should go to the independent umpire, Fair Work Australia, if it wants to seek a wage increase for its members.
“We take any accusations of unfair treatment of staff very seriously and the principles upon which our sector engages with our employees has been clearly outlined in this new Code,” said Corby.
In releasing the Code, the BSCAA and SCCA have called on United Voice to cease its industrial campaign, which, as stated in the media release, ‘unfairly targets shopping centres, as well as those cleaning companies that provide jobs and abide by Fair Work Australia’s rules in paying employees award rates and entitlements, including penalty rates.’
“We don’t believe there is any basis for the union to keep singling out shopping centre owners or their retailers in its campaign, ” said Sewell.
“The union’s constant accusations of poor working conditions and unclean shopping centres are simply a smoke screen for demanding unsustainable wage increases which cannot be absorbed, particularly in this current environment, ” added Corby.
As assurred by the BSCAA and SCCA, the new Code will be continually monitored and reviewed to ensure ongoing improvement.