TT interview with Ashley Wilton (in above group, right) of the United Workers Union, outside Glenorchy Central.
A cleaners union today accused a mainland contractor of ‘stealing night cleaners’ wages’ through sham contracts at Glenorchy Central.
The company in question, Statewide Quality Services, has denied that the practice is occurring. They say that all workers are employed in accordance with the relevant award. (A full statement is below).
Workers, supported by the United Workers Union, rallied outside the shopping centre today, calling on the property owner SCA Property Group to stop exploitation of their cleaners. Leaflets were distributed to centre visitors, urging them to complain to the SCA head office.
United Workers Union Property Services spokesperson Sarah Ellis said: “We’ve had numerous reports from the Nepalese community that sham contracting is happening at Glenorchy Central and multiple other sites in the greater Hobart area.”
“Many of Glenorchy Centre’s cleaners are migrant workers, a group often targeted by dodgy contractors because they do not always know their workplace rights, such as the right to join a union.”
She alleged that sham contracting arrangements were in place, and defined that as “where an employer attempts to disguise an employment relationship as an independent contracting arrangement.”
“Cleaners at Glenorchy Central have been forced to obtain ABNs, which the contractor Statewide is using to commit wage theft and withhold entitlements such as annual leave, sick leave, superannuation, and so on,” said Ellis. “We know cleaners have been threatened by Statewide with job losses, should they speak with the union.”
She said the situation in Victoria highlighted how dangerous it can be to allow ‘dodgy contractors’ to operate in essential services.
“The coronavirus crisis has highlighted just how essential cleaners are, and have always been, yet Glenorchy Central has been irresponsibly dismissive of their value,” she said.
Michelle Tierney.
Tasmanian Times contacted SCA for comment, and the following statement was provided by Chief Operating Officer Michelle Tierney:
SCA Property Group is a leader in Australian convenience-based retail shopping centres. We respect the workplace rights and entitlements of all employees who perform work at any of our centres.
We are committed to conducting business in an ethical, legal and socially responsible manner. We seek to ensure that all the arrangements for our retail centres reflect our high standards for corporate governance and sustainability.
We have detailed requirements for each of our suppliers, including that they conduct their business in an ethical, legal and socially responsible manner in accordance with our Supplier Code of Conduct which is available on SCA’s website www.scaproperty.com.au. Compliance with this Code of Conduct is a requirement of SCA Property Group’s service contracts.
Our contracts, including Statewide Quality Services’ contract, also require our suppliers to provide their services, and conduct their businesses, in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. Statewide Quality Services has today confirmed to SCA Property Group that all of its staff are employed in accordance with the relevant award.
SCA Property Group is an ASX-listed company valued at approximately $2.4 billion. It controls a portfolio of 85 Woolworths- and Coles-anchored neighbourhood shopping centres that have a mix of convenience-focused speciality stores.
Yesterday the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the company had taken a COVID-19 hit, with rent collections from SCA’s shopping centres falling to 77 per cent of expected payments from March to June. Nationwide more than 600 tenants are receiving rental assistance under the government’s mandatory code of conduct.
