Outrage at the treatment of cleaners at Brisbane Airport will spill over today as tensions over pay, respect and safety continue to rise. United Workers Union (UWU) and supporters will make their voices and car horns heard at Brisbane’s globally recognised airport.

Comments attributable to UWU Cleaning Industry Coordinator Damien Davie:

“We are expecting hundreds of cars. They will be flying our union flags as a show of support for cleaners who are sick of being understaffed and forced to work in unsafe conditions, disrespected and underpaid.

“Women do not want to continue cleaning male toilets that are in use and busy with sometimes disrespectful or abusive travellers.

“These cleaners are sick of being paid less than other contractors at the same airport because SecureCorp is refusing to budge. Meanwhile SecureCorp push workers to clean Brisbane Airport – to keep everyone safe during a global pandemic – with sometimes half the required staff members on shift.

“Brisbane Airport has a big role to play here. They can value the workers that clean their airport. They can tell their contractor to pay cleaners a fair wage employ enough staff to do the job in a safe environment.

“Today is a big show of solidarity for cleaners at Brisbane Airport. The community values their hard work, they rely on it to be safe on their travels and are demanding fair pay and respect.”

What: Press conference + cavalcade

Who: UWU’s Damien Davie with workers in attendance

Where: Qantas drop off entrance, domestic terminal, Brisbane Airport

When: 8am, Monday 29 August

ENDS 

Media Contact: 1300 898 633, [email protected]