Abetz’ underhand attempt to rob cleaners Employment Minister Eric Abetz has set a new low on back-flipping on Government commitments with his deceitful attempt to betray Commonwealth cleaners. Yesterday the Senate voted to protect the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines, which ensure fair pay and working conditions of cleaners working in Commonwealth buildings. It was revealed in The Australian today that, at the same time, Senator Abetz secretly moved to abolish the Guidelines and rip away more than 20% of the cleaners’ wages by reducing their minimum wage from $22.02 per hour to $17.49 per hour ($172 per week). David O’Byrne, Acting National Secretary of United Voice, the cleaners’ union says “United Voice is taking advice on what seems to be a deliberate attempt by Senator Abetz to subvert the parliamentary process. “While the Parliament was debating this matter, there was not a hint from the Government of what they were doing secretly behind closed doors. “This makes a mockery of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s statement in Parliament on 16 June when he said ‘I want to make it absolutely crystal clear that no cleaners pay is reduced.’ “We call on the Prime Minister to do be true to his word. “Tony Abbott needs to pull his Employment Minister into line, to do the right thing by the Parliament and by the cleaners who work so hard to make sure the Governments’ buildings are clean and safe. “The past 24 hours have been bitter for cleaners. Yesterday they celebrated the Senate’s recognition that the Guidelines are essential to ensure fair and reasonable working conditions. Today they face the future with anxiety and uncertainty,” says David O’Byrne. The Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines were established to ensure cleaners of Government buildings have fair pay and working conditions because of the woeful and well-documented history of underpayment, exploitation and unsafe work practices in the cleaning industry.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 07:00:10 +0000
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