Cleaner strike action raises stink at Avalon

ERIN PEARSON
CLEANERS at Avalon Airport will strike from this Friday over an ongoing pay dispute, union officials have warned.
United Voice said passengers would pass through dirty airports as the strike spread from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport to Avalon.
Assistant Victorian Secretary Ben Redford said Spotless employees want a $1600 allowance returned after it was removed from their contracts during “award-modernisation” this year.
Mr Redford said cleaners working for other companies still received the payment, which supplemented travel and “difficult” work conditions.
“Cleaners are standing firm in refusing to accept less money for doing the same job as other airport cleaners and now cleaners at Avalon are joining them,” he said.
“Just like their colleagues at Tullamarine, the cleaners at Avalon Airport simply cannot understand why they should be paid $1600 a year less than cleaners at Melbourne Airport’s international and Virgin terminals.”
In July airport cleaners working for ISS Cleaning successfully fought to have the payment restored.
Spotless spokeswoman Kerrina Lawrence said Avalon would stay clean this week despite the negotiations.
“Avalon Airport remained clean and tidy despite union misinformation. For several weeks the United Voice union has said that Avalon Airport could be left unclean owing to potential strike action,” Ms Lawrence said.
“Spotless confirms that last Monday one staff member stopped work at the airport.
“On Tuesday and Wednesday a full cleaning crew performed all the normal duties.”
Ms Lawrence said Spotless had offered its cleaners wage increases on top of rates above $20 an hour for many staff.
Avalon general manager Justin Giddings said the airport had yet to be advised of formal action but would monitor the situation.
Mr Giddings hoped the dispute could be resolved before Friday.
Spotless employs 11 staff at Avalon Airport.