Cleaners to hold Christmas Parades to Protest their Poor Treatment

Cleaners campaigning for a fair deal will hold their own Cleaners Christmas Parades in Auckland and Wellington this week.

Cleaners will protest their unfair treatment, taking their Christmas parade around city office buildings cleaned by the worst companies in the contract cleaning industry.

"We're going to sing our own cleaners Christmas Carols to Christmas shoppers so they know what it's like to be a cleaner at Christmas time." Said cleaner and Service and Food Workers Union member Api Ielemia.

"We sing 'I'm dreaming of a Fair Christmas' instead of 'I'm dreaming of a White Christmas'".

"We know this is meant to be a fun time of year for everyone, but when you're a cleaner you try buying gifts for your family when you're on $10.95 an hour."

"You try cleaning up all the extra rubbish after the office parties with no extra time to do it, or pay for the extra work!"

"You try working through the holidays, or having your hours cut, depending on the needs of clients. There are no choices for cleaners at this time of year. Many of us can't afford to go on holiday, so even if we're not working we have to stay at home." Said Api.

Cleaners campaigning across New Zealand and Australia and are calling on contract cleaning firms to work with them to improve the cleaning industry.

The Auckland parade will start today (Wednesday 6 th December) at 12noon at the foot of Queen Street.

The Wellington parade will begin at 3pm tomorrow (Thursday 7 th December) in front of the Parliament buildings.

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