Cleanaway waste workers on the City of Sydney contract will take strike action today, in what will be their seventh strike in the past 12 months.
They will engage in a 24-hour stoppage today, July 7, 2023. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says this follows. “persistent attacks to pay and conditions by Cleanaway management, and despite numerous attempts to negotiate a fair agreement”.
According to the union, Cleanaway have 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 are now calling on Lord Mayor Clover Moore of the City of Sydney Council to intervene in the dispute.
“Waste workers play an essential role in maintaining the cleanliness of our cities,” said TWU NSW/QLD state secretary, Richard Olsen. “They tirelessly work to ensure the wellbeing and health of the community. Yet, Cleanaway still continue to make attempts to undermine and strip back their working conditions.
“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.
“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.”