File photo. Photo: RNZ / Katie Todd
A union representing cleaners at Auckland Airport says strikes today are just the beginning.
OCS Cleaners at the domestic and international airport are striking today for more pay and more respect from their employers.
OCS was one of the parties to the multi-employer collective agreement for commercial cleaners, including several other companies, which hold some of the biggest cleaning contracts across both the public and private sector.
E Tū union director Sarah Thompson said OCS had not offered staff anything, despite ongoing negotiations.
"The cleaners here have been in bargaining for a couple of days, plus we've had mediation," she said.
"These are minimum wage workers, we've spent two days in bargaining, another day in mediation, and all they've come up with is nothing."
Thompson described the offer as highly offensive.
She said some of the 20 cleaners striking had worked at the airport for more than two decades, and were still being offered minimum wage.
"We're fighting for the living wage," she said.
"We also want to see dignity and respect, we want health and safety ... and there's some other conditions still on the table."
Thompson said cleaners would partially strike tomorrow as well.
In a statement from E Tū, airport cleaner Jacqueline Davis said the zero offer showed the companies did not care about its workers.
"Personally, I think they just don't give a damn about us," she said.
"We're nothing in their eyes, we're just the little cleaners."
Auckland Airport said today's strike action would have no impact on operations or terminal cleanliness.
A spokesperson for OCS said they were unable to comment on the strikes, as they were only one of many parties, and not leading the negotiations.
