A plan to cut nearly 34,000 hours from the cleaning contract at Massey University has angered staff and students at the university. However, the cleaners’ union, the Service and Food Workers Union, is hopeful that Massey may intervene after protests by the cleaners, as well as other staff and students at the university.

From 1 July a new cleaning contractor, OCS Ltd, had been appointed to work at Massey University’s campuses in Auckland, Wellington and Palmerston North. SFWU lead organiser Fala Haulangi says staff were shocked and saddened at this.

“The cleaning staff of 100 have been told by the new contractor that the company wishes to reduce the number of hours staff work and move towards ‘term time’ only employment. This will wreck lives and destroy the workers’ jobs, and result in a dirty and unproductive work environment for staff and students.”

Under the proposal, employees’ jobs would be reduced to just 31 weeks guaranteed work a year. Around 400 hours would go from Palmerston North each week, 120 hours would disappear in Auckland, and 158 hours would go from Wellington. A total of 33,900 hours would be cut.

Ms Haulangi says that OCS is not offering affected staff any redundancy compensation. She says the cuts are the result of Massey University changing the previous contract specifications.

The cleaning staff organised a protest last week that was supported by TEU members, other staff and students, and have presented a petition and letters of support to the university. SFWU believes that the university now is concerned about the impact OCS Ltd’s cuts might have on other low-paid staff, and on the university as a whole, and so are looking for a solution. SFWU delegates are planning a second meeting with the university in the next week, and are hopeful of a positive outcome.