The United Services Union (USU) rejects the comments made by Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley from the Greens regarding to the decision to contract out the Council’s cleaning services.
USU manager Rudi Oppitz said Ms Findlay had told local media cleaning roles at Shoalhaven City Council were vacant and would not lead to staff losing their jobs.
“This is not the case and the Mayor is well aware of the real situation,” Mr Oppitz said.
“Shoalhaven City Council has spent the past two years removing permanent staff from this work, pushing employees out and filling the work with labour hire staff.”
“After the USU took the Council to the Industrial Relations Commission over breaching the Award by using labour hire workers, it then hired 10 cleaners on short-term contracts.”
“These workers will now be pushed onto the unemployment queue when the Council brings in private contractors.”
“Claims by the Council that it will save $400,000 a year by contracting out the work have no basis in fact, and we call on Mayor Findley to explain the alleged savings.”
“Contracting out these jobs is a blatant attack on permanent employees’ jobs in the Shoalhaven community.”
“Instead of offering well-paying jobs to locals, the Council will be using rate-payers’ funds to prop up the profits of contract cleaning companies from Sydney.”
“Permanently employed cleaners have kept the Council premises clean and hygienic for many years. We are calling on Shoalhaven City Council to see sense and return to the cleaning model that works.”
