The University of Tasmania (UTAS) has denied a union allegation that a cut to cleaning will put people at risk and threaten the livelihoods of cleaning staff.
The United Workers Union claimed that cleaning hours would be ‘slashed’ by 40%. They said UTAS Sandy Bay campus was informed of the decision last week and the UTAS northern campuses, Newnham and Inveresk, are expected to receive the same news as their southern colleagues today.
The union described the cuts as “a significant blow to the livelihoods of cleaners who have been working hard to keep students and staff safe throughout this pandemic.”
UTAS students have launched a petition denouncing the Vice-Chancellor’s ‘lack of respect for cleaners’ and the ‘potential risks’ posed by these cuts. Created by Benjamin Dudman, as of 4pm today the petition garnered 148 signatures. Dudman is President of Young Labor Tasmania, and also a UWU member.
The petition rationale reads, in part: “It is because of the hard work and dedication of cleaners that Tasmania currently has zero recorded cases of COVID-19. However, we are only as safe as our front line defence allows us to be. By cutting the cleaning budget, effectively withdrawing time and resources from cleaners to do their job, UTAS is putting everyone at risk.”
Cleaner Anna Reay, who has worked at UTAS Newnham and Inveresk campuses for four years, said cleaners had “bent over backwards for UTAS, keeping the uni safe.”
“It’s devastating that they are doing this to us and putting students at risk.
Cleaners shouldn’t have to pay for their bad financial decisions.”
United Workers Union spokesperson, Sarah Ellis, attributed the situtation to financial mistakes made by university management and (former Vice-Chancellor) Peter Rathjen. “(They) went on a property shopping spree that hasn’t paid off,” she said.
“Now the Vice-Chancellor is trying to patch up his budget with the low wages of essential workers, rather than looking for a more ethical alternative. This isn’t the first time Rufus Black’s ethics and morals have been called into question. He has been conspicuously absent on previous occasions when cleaners’ livelihoods were on the chopping board.”
“These cuts need to be reversed immediately, so cleaners can do their important, essential work,” Ellis concluded.
A University of Tasmania spokesperson told Tasmanian Times that the university had significantly increased its spending on cleaning in 2020 in response to COVID-19.
“The safety of our students, staff and the broader community has been at the absolute forefront of all of our decisions about cleaning; to suggest our approach to cleaning will make people less safe is false and irresponsible,” the spokesperson said.
“From January to August this year, we have spent approximately $3.2 million on cleaning, compared to approximately $2.2 million over the same period last year. This increase reflects a significant investment in further heightened cleaning measures, on top of our regular cleaning services, to ensure our people and our facilities are COVID-Safe.
The spokesperson said that cleaning requirements had consequentially been impacted by their response to COVID-19, which included the temporary closure of many campus buildings when UTAS moved to remote working, learning and researching.
“Throughout this period we have adjusted cleaning and maintenance services, in consultation with our contractors such as GJK Facility Services, in response to University activity and requirements,” the spokesperson said.
