NSW: Cleaners to rally outside deputy premier's office

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2004
NSW: Cleaners to rally outside deputy premier's office

SYDNEY, Aug 12 AAP - Cleaners from inner-Sydney schools will today rally outside the
NSW deputy premier's electoral office in continuing action over proposed new contracts.

Cleaners are concerned new multi-year contracts announced in June to clean schools
and other public buildings would not include job security protection.

In protest, the NSW Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) last week launched
rolling stoppages and pickets across the state.

Cleaners from 100 inner-Sydney schools will stage morning pickets at school gates followed
by a rally outside the office of Andrew Refshauge, who is also the NSW Education Minister.

LHMU NSW president Jim Lloyd said at least 100 cleaners would gather outside the Marrickville
office to voice their concerns.

"We want to persuade the government to put forward a reasonable proposal for the new
school cleaning contract that ensures our schools are kept clean and that the cleaners
keep their jobs," Mr Lloyd said.

"Currently, we fear that almost 7,000 cleaners' jobs are under threat and the standard
of cleaning in schools will be jeopardised."

He said the proposed contracts covered only basic cleaning, leaving volunteers to finish
the job and some cleaners unemployed.

AAP tam/smb/cdh/jlw

KEYWORD: CLEANERS

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