Action: Karen McQuitty at Corio Shopping Centre.
MICHELLE HERBISON
“OVERWORKED and understaffed” cleaners are preparing to strike at Corio Shopping Centre, according to a worker joining the industrial action.
Karen McQuitty said she and her colleagues voted this week to take action against employer Spotless for extra pay and staff.
Mrs McQuitty said Spotless had been uncooperative since taking over the centre’s cleaning nearly a year ago.
“We’re constantly cleaning up after dirty, filthy people who deliberately come in and make an awful mess,” she said.
“The workload we have to do is far too great for the amount of staff we have and for what the job involves.”
Mrs McQuitty said Spotless expected cleaners to service the centre’s toilets every 40 minutes while keeping all indoor and outdoor areas clean, including constant monitoring of the food court.
Jess Walsh, of union United Voice, said some of the centre’s 12 cleaners would meet in Melbourne this week to discuss action with colleagues from other Victorian shopping centres.
“Cleaners have no option but to take strike action to get Spotless to take them seriously. Spotless refuses to talk to them about safe workloads and a living wage,” Ms Walsh said.
A union statement said “impossible workloads” were stressing more than half of Spotless’s cleaners, who were dissatisfied with their low wages.
Shopping centre manager Robyn Madeley said “contingency plans” would keep the facility “accessible” during the strike.
Spotless released a statement saying the company “plays by the umpires rules”.
Staff were paid award wages, Spotless said.
The company also offered job security, training and legislative entitlements, unlike some other employers in the cleaning industry.
