The TWU says Cleanaway workers are continuing ongoing action over working conditions in Sydney today
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) has announced that waste workers from Cleanaway have decided to strike today.
The TWU says Cleanaway City of Sydney contract workers have made the difficult decision to once again stop work for 24 hours today to protest ongoing improved working conditions.
This will be the seventh time these workers will go on strike in the past 12 months following what TWU has labelled as “persistent attacks to pay and conditions by Cleanaway management despite numerous attempts to negotiate a fair agreement”.
The TWU says Cleanaway has continued attempting to strip back overtime entitlements and extend rosters as well as force workers to work weekends for less take home pay. This follows the announcement of an astounding $49 million half-year profit after tax earlier this year.
The TWU is continuing to call on Lord Mayor Clover Moore of City of Sydney Council to intervene promptly in this dispute and hold Cleanaway to account.
“Waste workers play an essential role in maintaining the cleanliness of our cities. They tirelessly work to ensure the well-being and health of the community. Yet, Cleanaway still continue to make attempts to undermine and strip back their working conditions,” TWU NSW/ Queensland state secretary Richard Olsen says.
“We have made multiple attempts to contact the City of Sydney Council, who are still yet to provide any intervention. This council hold the control of the contracts, and by extension, are stakeholders in this negotiation.
RELATED ARTICLE: Inside TWU’s letter to the NHVR
“The TWU are simply requesting that Clover Moore takes a seat at the table, for the welfare of these essential workers, and for the welfare of the community. We have been in bargaining for this agreement for approximately eight months now and currently we do not foresee an end to these negotiations any time soon.
“For the sake of these workers and for the sake of the City of Sydney, we are urging Clover Moore to come forward and contact the TWU as soon as possible, and take a stand in this matter.”