Cleaners, members of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU), held a cake stall outside the Commonwealth Bank headquarters on September 20 as part of a “Cleanstart” campaign national day of action. The cake stall was a tongue-in-cheek fundraiser to help the CBA raise money to employ cleaning contractors who have signed “responsible contractor policies”, which include improving cleaners’ wages and working conditions.

The CBA, which made a $3.93 billion profit last financial year, employs contractors who have not signed the policy. The protesters, many armed with buckets and bin lids, occupied a food court adjoining the bank’s headquarters.

In Sydney, 50 cleaners and their supporters marched through the city and held a noisy protest outside the Sydney Water building to protest against contract cleaning company BIC Services’ refusal to pass on the July award wage rise of $0.33 per hour to employees. The LHMU said BIC Services has decided not to pay the increase due to the federal government’s new workplace laws.

The LHMU is organising further rallies to be held during Anti-Poverty Week, October 15-21.

Dan Burke & Kerry Vernon

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