Striking cleaners seek support

Press, 14 May 1984, Page 9

Striking cleaners seek support

PA Wellington Cleaners all over New Zealand support the striking cleaners in Wellington, said the secretary of the Cleaners’ Union, Mr Pat Kelly, yesterday, as an appeal for funds got under way. The cleaners struck last month to raise the wages of office cleaners to the same level as school cleaners. School cleaners are paid $5.05 an hour, 49c more than office cleaners. “We estimate we will need at least $20,000 each week if we are to maintain the workers involved,” Mr Kelly said. All union delegates have been sent collection sheets and urged to start collecting. A pamphlet explaining

the dispute and appealing for support is being distributed publicly. “It Is early days yet but... finance is not going to be a problem,” Mr Kelly said. “There is a fair amount of confidence among the pickets. They know they are right.” The Federation of Labour singled out B.P. New Zealand as a focal point for its campaign of industrial action to break the wage freeze last week. It agreed to approach B.P. management and threaten a consumer boycott unless it employed cleaners on higher wages. Twenty-four buildings cleaned by Crothalls Property Services, including the airport terminal, have been affected by the dispute.