Hundreds of NSW school cleaners will finally receive the pay, security and respect they deserve as the Minns Labor Government transitions government cleaners to direct employment in January 2026.
The NSW Government announced the transition earlier this year with the Hunter and the Central Coast moving to government employment. Now a new award has been finalised for the pay and conditions cleaners will receive when they start working for the Government.
United Workers Union NSW Secretary Mel Gatfield said the transition and the new award recognises the essential role cleaners play in keeping schools and TAFEs safe and healthy for students and staff, as well as serving countless other essential government buildings like police stations, court houses and electorate offices.
“It’s great the Minns Labor Government has heeded warnings these cleaners face conditions likened to modern slavery, and that there is light on the horizon for all cleaners in NSW,” Ms Gatfield said.
The new award will see cleaners get an immediate 5% pay rise and will ensure they no longer have their hours cut or changed without proper consultation. It will also ensure that cleaners, who are often the lowest paid workers at the schools and buildings they clean, will have access to many of the same conditions as their colleagues they work alongside. Cleaners will be able to access improved sick leave, family and community service, long-service leave, parental and carers leave – in some instances for the first time ever.
Approximately 850 cleaners in the Hunter and Central Coast will begin working for the Department of Education in January 2026 – in time to have classrooms ready for the beginning of the school year.
Job offers to all Hunter and Central Coast cleaners working under the new award are expected to be sent this week.
“For too long, cleaners were treated as invisible, doing vital work without the respect, safety or job security they deserved. This starts to put that right. It’s recognition that safe, clean schools and buildings depend on stable, valued cleaning staff,” Ms Gatfield said.
“Every cleaner across NSW deserves the same security and respect. We’ll keep working with the Government to make sure the next phase delivers for everyone.
“For too long school cleaners have got the raw end of outsourced contracts – low wages, high injury rates and constant job insecurity.
“This historic win follows years of campaigning by cleaners and the United Workers Union to fix a broken contracting system.
“Today is proof that when workers stand together, they can win lasting change. This is a victory built by cleaners, for cleaners.”
Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos MLC said: “Cleaners are vital members of every school community, whose hard work ensures staff and students have the best teaching and learning environments.
“This is great news for people living in the Hunter and the Central Coast who are looking for a secure, valuable NSW government job with flexible hours.”