Victorian School cleaners are still fighting for direct Government employment but their efforts of targeting the Labor Party and particularly the State Education Minister Ben Carroll has produced some fruitful results in terms of modest payrises and ongoing job security.
After successfully winning a review into the broken privatised school cleaning system in Victoria in 2023, workers were dealt a blow when the Victorian Labor Government announced the status quo would remain for this term of Government, in spite of the review recommending returning the system back into the public sector.
Union members were quick to respond and held numerous rallies and high visibility events around Melbourne with a particular focus on the electorate of the Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ben Carroll.
Delegates were joined by allies from across the union movement at the Victorian Labor Conference as they turned their back on Minister Carroll when he gave his address.
While the fight for in sourcing will continue, because of the efforts of the school cleaners, the Government was forced to move on making modest improvements on wages, job security and consultation for cleaners in 2025.