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On this day, every year, cleaners and security workers mark their struggle for global justice and equality. This year, unions represented cleaning and security workers in countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, United States, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom organised a series of events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of International Justice Day.



Actions in Spain, Portugal, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil were targeted at the Spanish security multinational Prosegur. We called on Prosegur to:

- Comply with internationally recognised labour standards

- Establish a global dialogue over workplace issues AND resolve these issues

- Recognise their worker’s rights everywhere through a Global Agreement with UNI Global Union.

- Provide their security guards everywhere with DECENT WORK



Some of our cleaning actions included;



Australia - United Voice cleaners held rallies and flash mob actions - in 6 capital cities around Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart. The main focus for action was on the crisis in shopping centre cleaning and the fact that one of the largest and also publicly listed cleaning companies, Spotless, is refusing to sit down with cleaners and discuss industry solutions.



Germany – IGBAU cleaners demonstrated support of their campaign – Cleaning has its’ price – in Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig, München and Hamburg. Find out more at www.sauberkeithatihrenpreis.de



Ireland – SIPTU cleaners held a Cleaners Forum; signed a Responsible Contractor agreement with ISS; held an international conference with cleaners in Holland & Germany; undertook a direct action on their Labour Minister over proposed cuts to cleaners wages; held an event for contractors & public sector buyers of contract cleaning, being interviewed on prime time TV about how cleaners work is undervalued.



Netherlands - FNV Bondgenoten held actions in support of raising standards for cleaners in major markets throughout the Netherlands. The union initiated international contact with union cleaners through their UNI affiliates in various countries in Europe, the United States and Australia, taking International Justice Day to a new level in UNI Property Services.



United States - This year we had events planned June 11-17 in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.



International Justice Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1990 and was established after cleaners in Los Angeles were beaten by police during a peaceful demonstration against a multinational cleaning firm. Pressure from cleaners who belonged to unions in other countries helped the Los Angeles cleaners eventually win justice.



UNI Global Union Property Services coordinated its affiliates’ activities and demonstrations around the world commemorating International Justice Day.

Articles:

theage.com

Weitzel

CCOO

unitedvoice.org

yourrightsatnight