KEY POINTS:
Marches are being held in Australia and New Zealand today to protest against low rates of pay for commercial cleaners.
Members of Australia's Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous union are gathering outside Sydney Town Hall at 4pm (6pm NZT).
They are marching in support of their New Zealand counterparts at the Service and Food Workers Union, who are also protesting today, outside the Auckland and Wellington offices of Spotless Services.
John Ryall, national secretary of New Zealand's Service and Food Workers Union, said Spotless was the country's largest cleaning contractor.
He told NZPA the union had asked Spotless to sign a "responsible contractor policy", which had been signed by a number of other cleaning companies, and involved a pledge to consult with the union over workloads and rates of pay.
"There's been absolutely no response from them whatsoever. We've heard from local managers that there's no intention from the company to sign."
Mr Ryall said Spotless paid "poverty wages" which were impossible for cleaners to live on.
" Spotless (staff) are paid only $11.30 per hour for the gruelling work they do. That is only five cents more than the new adult minimum wage," said Mr Ryall.
He said there had been a good turnout at both New Zealand protests, which were held at lunchtime.
Spotless Services human resources manager Linda Hart said the company had no comment to make.
- NZPA
