Spotless Group Limited : Media Release - Shopping Centre Action

Media Release

9 December 2011

Spotless abides by the umpire's rules and keeps shopping centres clean

Shopping centres cleaned by Spotless, including Westfield buildings, will remain clean and tidy before, during and after the festive season.
Spotless continues to abide by the umpire's rules with its cleaners receiving three wage increases in the past 18 months, including a wage increase on 1 July 2011.
The award will again be reviewed in early 2012 with an increase expected in mid 2012. Spotless cleaners have safe workloads, the right equipment and other entitlements including shift, overtime, penalty rates and superannuation. This is evidenced by 500 Spotless cleaners currently undertaking traineeships.
Spotless continues to call on the United Voice union to work with it and other stakeholders to design constructive changes to the cleaning services award and submit these to the industrial umpire, Fair Work Australia.
Spotless relies on having qualified and adequately remunerated employees and will immediately pass on future increases to the award to all cleaners, not just those working in shopping centres.
As an employer of more than 5,000 cleaners in Australia the welfare and safety of Spotless cleaners is paramount. High standards are maintained with a significant and ongoing investment in occupational health and safety training and support.
BACKGROUND

• The union has for about one year sought an enterprise agreement with all major cleaning contractors in

Australia who work at shopping centres. Negotiations broke down in September 2011.

• While Spotless was not part of the negotiations, all other contractors walked away from bargaining as the bid for a 33 per cent wage increase for cleaners in the retail sector is not sustainable in the current economic environment.

• The union has not disclosed that its negotiations failed months ago and instead seeks to target Spotless, a contractor that plays by the umpires' rules (Fair Work Australia) and pays the award.

• Fair Work Australia, the national workplace relations tribunal, increased cleaners' wages by 3.4 per cent from July 2011. This follows various wage increases on 30 June 2010 and 1 January 2011.

Media

Kerrina Lawrence: 03 9269 7582 / 0434 198 427
About Spotless www.spotless.com

Spotless is a leading international services company comprised of two distinct operations, Facility Services and Retailer Services. Established in 1946, Spotless is listed on the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchanges. Spotless employs more than 40,000 people and skilled sub-contractors to deliver over 125 specialist services in thousands of locations. The Group's Facility Services operations supply catering, cleaning, maintenance, facility management and laundry services across a broad range of industry sectors. Retailer Services, operating under the brand Braiform, provides customised garment hanger and packaging solutions to retailers and garment