News

The LHMU's Clean Start campaign is bringing huge improvements for cleaners throughout Australia.



After two and a half years of battling with cleaning contractors, building union density, developing alliances with the community and calling on the support of building owners, the union has made a collective agreement with 19 contract cleaning firms around the country. The employers who have signed up include the multinational cleaning giant ISS which has nation-wide operations in Australia.



The agreement provides:

• wage increases over 4 years range for cleaners in different states, from 20% to 40%’. Fulltime cleaners in Australia in office buildings will be earning $21.17per hour by the end of the agreement, or $804.46 per week
  
• a new minimum shift length of 4 hours
  
• a letter of appointment to clarify terms and conditions of employment
  
• basic induction and training
  
• workload management and job specifications
  
• provisions for job security during change of contract
  
• dispute resolution

ISS, who recently signed a new global agreement with UNI, is Australia’s largest contractor cleaning company and the first national contractor to commit to the agreement. ISS Human Resources Director in Australia Darryl Prince says “... we are delighted that we could work with the LHMU towards an outcome that works for all stakeholders.”



“We look forward to working productively with ISS to build contract cleaning into an industry of which we can all be proud,” said Louise Tarrant, General Secretary of the LHMU.



ISS Cleaner Anna Piyan says “I think it’s great. This means I can finally have job security, better pay and the chance to have my say when there are problems at work. I’m so happy.”



Congratulations to the LHMU and to all of the workers and activists who have made this campaign successful!



See the LHMU's press release here