Cleaners to take action over poverty wages

For immediate release
Tuesday 22 September

Cleaners to take action over poverty wages

Cleaners working for contractors in schools, shopping malls and commercial buildings across New Zealand will be taking to the streets tomorrow (Wednesday 23 September) to draw attention to the poverty wages they are paid.

The cleaners, who are members of the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota (SFWU) are angry because they have been offered a pay increase of just 25 cents an hour. The majority of these cleaners are currently on $12.55 an hour - just five cents above the minimum wage, and say they find the employer’s offer insulting and disrespectful.

The cleaners are currently in negotiations to renew their Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) with major cleaning contractors, are asking for $14.62 an hour – the same rate already paid to cleaners in public hospitals, and to directly employed school cleaners.

Fala Haulangi, Lead Organiser for the SFWU’s Clean Start campaign said “Our members are frustrated that building owners and cleaning contractors won’t work together with the union to try and increase the poverty wages they pay cleaners. Our cleaners tell us they can’t survive on $12.55 an hour, and we are urging contractors and building owners to listen to them and pay fair wages.”

Cleaners and their supporters will be carrying out a range of activities across the country, including pickets outside key buildings in cities, and will be taking to the streets wearing stickers saying ‘We’re worth more’ and ‘Where’s our $14.62?’.

ENDS

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