Massey cleaners fight to keep jobs

More than 50 Massey University cleaners are petitioning to save their jobs.

About 20 contracted cleaners protested at the Turitea campus yesterday following a proposal to slash their hours to part-time.

The Service and Food Union workers collected 500 signatures from Massey staff who oppose the cuts.

Cleaner and union member Garry Young said staff felt "unsettled" as uncertainty surrounded their jobs.

"Some people are already working nights in different jobs just to make a living."

Mr Young said one worker, who arrived in Palmerston North as a refugee, depends on the fulltime income to support two teenagers.

"It would be devastating if she lost her income," he said. "They're not scholars, but they deserve to have jobs."

Previously employed by Spotless, the cleaners became staff of new contractor OCS on July 1.

Under the new contract, a total of 34,000 cleaning hours would be cut from the Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North campuses per year.

In Palmerston North, 400 hours would be lost. Cleaners would work five-hour days for 31 weeks of the year, with all semester holidays off unpaid. University staff would need to take more responsibility for keeping their offices clean.

Union leader Fala Haulangi said no redundancy had been offered.

OCS has declined to comment while the proposal was being considered.

Tertiary Education Union branch president Harvey Jones supported the workers' protest.

"We are being told to become a defining university. I sincerely hope it doesn't turn into the dirtiest university."

- © Fairfax NZ News