Cleaners take to streets over pay

Cleaners say they are taking to the streets tomorrow to draw attention to their "poverty wages".

The cleaners, members of the Service and Food Workers Union, are angry at a pay increase offer of 25 cents an hour, and plan pickets in cities nationwide.

The union said the majority of the cleaners are currently on $12.55 an hour - just 5c above the minimum wage.

They are in negotiations to renew their multi employer collective agreement with major cleaning contractors, and are asking for $14.62 an hour - the same rate already paid to cleaners in public hospitals, and to directly employed school cleaners.

- NZPA