Cleanaway are heading down the pathway of one National Agreement, one size fits all yards. The TWU is fighting back. We know Cleanaway wants to reduce the ability for you to be represented by the TWU. We are asking why Cleanaway wants to avoid the independent umpire by removing dispute resolution clauses.
THE DODGY EA AT RANDWICK
Delegates spent a number of months meeting with Cleanaway to ensure that the rights, entitlements, and protections that you had with Suez (at Randwick), were maintained following Cleanaway taking over the waste contract on March 1 2021. This is what the Randwick Council guaranteed to the Union before the contract went to tender in 2018. In July, we told the company that we would oppose an EA based on what they were proposing. The company said they would consider our position and get back to us. Complete silence … then the Cleanaway response. The Company handed out a dodgy version of a new Agreement and are pushing workers to sign it.
CLEANAWAY CENTRAL WEST NSW – REDUCING ACCESS TO REPRESENTATION
In negotiations Cleanaway has refused to acknowledge the need for union representation, delegates’ rights or paid union meetings in the Agreement. In the Central West of NSW, Cleanaway are trying to reduce your rights to access your Union.
CLEANAWAY AT MORUYA
For 10 years, Suez held the contract for Eurobodalla Shire Council. During this time, members had worked through tough and extreme circumstances, which included both bushfires and floods. Workers were paid above award in accordance to the Suez number 1 agreement. Now a new tender has been awarded. Cleanaway has the Contract and it looks like drivers will lose jobs, pay and ongoing entitlements. This fight highlights the importance of maintaining the rate of pay and current conditions to a workforce that allows them to carry on doing their work with a safe rate of pay.
CENTRAL COAST (SOMERSBY) – MEMBERS VOTE NO
Another yard, another dodgy EA – this one voted down by the members. Cleanaway tried to sneak through their dodgy EA with zero consultation with workers or the TWU.
In the EA, Cleanaway did not want dispute resolution clauses: Cleanaway bluntly refused to provide members’ access to full representation by the TWU, instead they are happy you can cop management’s justice on an issue. Nor did Cleanaway want Status Quo clauses. Status Quo means that until a dispute is resolved the Status Quo before the dispute is maintained and work will continue as before without disruption. Without this, there is power in Cleanaway’s hands to push you their way.