Yes, cleaners do a dirty job. But we don't deserve rubbish wages
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Version 0 of 1. This week, Tony Abbott talked about my job in parliament – he talked about cleaners. I am proud of my work and of my contribution to our society and our economy. So it would be great to be able say that our prime minister respects and appreciates us for our work. Sadly, I can't say that. Abbott was defending the indefensible: his government’s decision to dump the Commonwealth cleaning services guidelines. This will see my pay drop by more than 20%. For the past 30 years, I’ve been a government contract cleaner. I’m part of the invisible workforce, usually working when others are at home and enjoying time with family and friends. Like thousands of other cleaners across the country, my job it is to make sure your workplaces and public spaces are safe, clean and well-maintained. It’s hard work, it’s dirty and it’s low paid. I’ve seen enough in my 30 years in the industry to know contract cleaning is itself a dirty industry – a magnet for shonky operators happy to exploit workers. Underpayments, cash in hand, unsafe work practices, little if any training, sham contracting, no superannuation, no workers’ compensation, bullying: you name it, these bottom feeders won’t let the law come between them and a quick buck. In one case, it took two years and an expensive federal court case before my colleagues and I received money owed to us by a former employer. But don’t take my word for it. The Workplace Ombudsman announced last year it is auditing up to 1,000 cleaning contractors across Australia. In the previous audit in 2010, the Ombudsman found 40% of employers did not comply with workplace laws. The industry continues to generate many complaints. That’s why for as long as I can remember, we have fought for recognition of cleaners. Our Clean Start: fair go for cleaners campaign has made a huge difference in cities across the country. We worked hard to convince the previous government to take responsibility for the jobs done in the name of the government. The guidelines are a benchmark, a standard which gives stability to the industry and recognises best practices. They are open, transparent and accountable and reward contractors who do the right thing by their workers and their clients. Under the guideline rate of $22.02 per hour we are still low paid, but it’s better than the poverty level award rate of $17.49 per hour – and we have real wage increases, reasonable workloads, proper training in equipment, chemicals and safety, and critically, job security when a contract changes hands. We have respect and dignity, and the guidelines ensure the governments gets value for money. But Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz think the guidelines are counter-productive red tape. It is very hard not to take it personally. I have never been punched in the gut but now I am pretty sure I now know how it feels. The government should be encouraging good employers who want to do the right thing by their workers and by their clients, rather than giving a green light to the race to the bottom which has characterised contract cleaning for so long. From 1 July when the guidelines are gone, at tender time contractors will have to revert to the rock-bottom award rate and conditions to win government work. Like many cleaners, to make ends meet I have two jobs, a full time and a part time one. I work 53 hours every week. Others, like my friend Marija, work 65 hours a week in three jobs to pay her mortgage. Without the guidelines, my pay will be cut by $200 a week. Marija fears she will lose her home. For all of us, it will be back to the fear and worry of losing our jobs every time there is a change of contract. How dare the government think that because we do a dirty job we deserve crappy wages? My idea of retiring is to give up my second job. Now I may have to get a third one. It was a Liberal prime minister who said life wasn’t meant to be easy, but surely he didn’t think it should be this hard for this long. |