After news of a fourth worker testing positive for COVID-19 at Spotless Dandenong, Spotless laundry employees have won the right to be paid while the workplace is shut and under quarantine.
Significantly, workers who refused to attend work last Wednesday and Thursday due to concerns of contracting COVID-19 will be granted paid leave for those days.
In addition, every Spotless Dandenong worker, full-time, part-time or casual, will receive a minimum of $150 per day even where they have run out or otherwise cannot access leave. Any Spotless casual worker who is not otherwise eligible for the State and Federal payment schemes for whatever reason will be paid by the company.
Questions remain as to what will happen with labour hire casual workers who attended the workplace during the infectious period. The Union understands the fourth COVID case involves a labour hire worker.
Consultation with workers around safely re-opening the workplace are ongoing.
Quotes attributable to Godfrey Moase, Executive Director, United Workers Union:
“This is an important step forward to ensuring low-wage migrant workers can take the swift workplace actions they need to protect the entire community from the spread of COVID-19.
“While this goes to the core needs of our members at this site, more needs to be done. Every Australian worker needs access to paid pandemic leave now and a living income while they can’t work for an extended period of time, no matter their employment or migration status.”
Attribute to a Spotless Dandenong laundry worker who must remain anonymous:
“This will help people to take care of bills this week and people will be able to pay bills until the company opens back as majority staff depend on this income.”