Why cleaners are picketing their employer w/ Sarah Thompson: July 31, 2023

Last week E Tū picketed outside the special general meeting of the Building Service Contractors of New Zealand, the employer association for cleaning companies.

E Tū have been in negotiations for a collective agreement but have been offered nothing by employers - including a lack of a 30c pay increase which has been offered in previous years.

This comes during the cost of living crisis, and Auckland Airport cleaner Jackie Clark said, “We feel that cleaning companies don’t care about the cleaners, and they don’t respect us.”

Caeden spoke to E Tū Campaign director Sarah Thompson about why they picketed, fair pay agreements and what we can expect to happen in the context of the election.