Unions celebrate 15 June
A record number of unions participated in global activity on Tuesday 15 June 2010 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of International Justice Day. On this day in 1990 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.
Every year UNI affiliates around the world organise activity to remember the bravery of the cleaners and fight for justice in and industry where exploitation is common. Below is a short summary of some of the many activities that took place;
This year, activities focussed upon the UNI campaign for a global agreement with HSBC and Santander banks. Demonstrations took place in many cities including Warsaw, Amsterdam, Dortmund, London and Madrid.
In New Zealand and Australia, unions awarded the annual Golden Toilet Brush awards to employers who demonstrate poor performance in respect of treatment of workers. This year's offenders included; OCS in Auckland ( see the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5tNcBq7J_4 ), Broadlex Cleaning Australia in Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales, General and Window Cleaning Pty Ltd in Tasmania, Baytons in Queensland, Mastercare in Western Australia and Prime One in South Australia.
In the Americas, there were embassy protests about the murders of security guards in Panama and demonstrations over immigration issues in the United States. In Africa, Malawian unionists launched a campaign over breaches of legislation by employers in the security industry and cleaners in Tunisia demonstrated over their poor conditions.
In Belgium, unions presented the National Inspectorate Service with a black book of cleaning - a set of rules and principle for fair treatment of workers and a national cleaning day was celebrated on Friday 18th June.
Alice Dale, head of Property Services said; "June 15 is an important day for Property Services workers worldwide. It provides us with an opportunity to show the world some of the problems that are created by clients and employers in a sector where workers pay and conditions are often very low and exploitation is common. We encourage all cleaning and security workers to join their unions and join UNI's campaign for decency and fairness across the world.