CALVARY Bruce Hospital cleaners are walking off the job for 24 hours today (November 2), after they were offered an “insulting” 5c pay increase. 

According to the United Workers Union, cleaners who work at Calvary Bruce Hospital are paid significantly less than cleaning staff at Canberra Hospital despite performing the same specialist cleans. 

Last Thursday the cleaners protested outside the hospital, calling on Calvary and the contractor, Compass Medirest, to respect what they do and offer them a reasonable pay rise, and today, following the disappointing offer, they will walk off the job.

“This 5c pay rise is a slap in the face from Compass Medirest, which is part of a huge multinational company, and so can spare more than just a nickel,” says United Workers Union property services director Lyndal Ryan. 

“People have thanked cleaners throughout the pandemic. They’ve thanked them for working on the frontline, for keeping our communities safe, for helping to stop the spread of the virus.

“But thanks is not enough. Talk is cheap, and that’s exactly what Calvary’s cleaning contractor is – cheap and disrespectful.”