WHAT: A delegation of CIT cleaners try to visit the new chief executive of CIT, Margot McNeill.
WHEN: 12:30PM, Wednesday, June 18
WHERE: CIT Woden, 36 Bradley St, Phillip ACT 2606
WHO: Cleaners facing the loss of their jobs of up to 15 years; UWU Property Services Director Lyndal Ryan.
After years of scandal within CIT (The Canberra Institute of Technology) the new chief executive starts her first day facing fresh controversy: accusations CIT is callously throwing 15 long-serving cleaners on the scrap heap.
A delegation of cleaners will be seeking to meet CIT Chief Executive Margot McNeill on her first day in the role today (EDS: Wednesday, June 18) before the cleaners lose their jobs on June 27.
A refugee from Tibet, Dawa, has worked with CIT since 2018. Dawa has two children who are both students aged 14 and 20, a mortgage and a husband who is unable to work.
“I have to look after the kids and my husband. It’s hard for me because I have a mortgage. I need to buy food, groceries, medicine and pay my mortgage.
“I work a long time here. I’m a hard worker; all the staff know me. We don’t have any country to go back to. Why not give me a job?”
A refugee from Cambodia, Chhun, has worked at CIT Reid since 2010 and has endured more than three contract transitions during his time there.
Chhun is the sole income earner for his family, supporting his wife, his son who is currently unemployed, and his daughter who suffers from kidney failure and requires ongoing, close medical monitoring.
“I work hard and put in every effort to ensure CIT students and staff are safe every single day. But now, instead of appreciating my hard work, CIT is abandoning me — leaving me without income,” he said.
United Workers Union Property Services Director Lyndal Ryan said it was a disgrace that undertakings sought by the union which would address the cleaners’ situation before the Reid campus closes on June 27 has not been given.
“In the middle of a Canberra winter, most of these cleaners will be left with no means of support,” Ms Ryan said.
“It’s hard for most Canberra residents to appreciate the gravity of this situation. Because some of these cleaners are international students, they have zero access to any Government support.
“It’s no good saying to these cleaners they can have a job in a couple of months – that doesn’t put food in their bellies or a roof over their heads.
“If Dr McNeill wants to draw a line under the scandals that have shadowed CIT for years, she could start by ensuring these cleaners can continue to do the hard work they have been doing for CIT for years.”
Background:
A long-awaited move by CIT to employ cleaners directly at the new Woden campus is scheduled for August, addressing years of race-to-the-bottom behaviour by cleaning contractors.
Yet 15 cleaners at the Reid campus that is closing on June 27 have been told they no longer have their jobs until they are able to apply for roles under the new insourcing model.
During the interim period, a contractor has been given the cleaning contract at Woden.
No plans or assurances have been made for the 15 cleaners at the Reid campus about being employed during the transition period.