Tenders to be called for cleaning services in metro Govt schools

20/10/95

Tenders are to be called for cleaning services in some Government schools in the metropolitan area.

Announcing the decision today, Mr Moore said cleaning services for 160 out the 772 Government schools would be tendered out.

An external consultant, Arthur Andersen, had recommended changes to school cleaning which would ensure that the quality of cleaning was maintained but delivered at a more competitive rate.

"The core business of schools is to educate children and it is clear that the cleaning industry has the capacity to carry out some of the work effectively," the Minister said.

"Many schools are already cleaned by contract cleaners and there is evidence that there would be considerable benefits in putting others out to tender where practical."

Mr Moore said tenders would be invited for clusters of schools in 15 metropolitan districts and would be in place by the end of Term 1, 1996.

"Any further extension of contract cleaning to other schools will only occur if an evaluation of these new contracts demonstrates that they are successful, are achieving significant efficiencies and there is no adverse effect on cleaning staff," he said.

"As a general rule smaller country communities will not be affected by the changes."

Mr Moore said department planners had grouped the 160 schools into 52 contracts which would be put out to tender.  Other schools would continue to be cleaned by the Education Department's own cleaners.

Of the 2,800 part and full-time cleaners about 144 full-time and 644 part-time cleaners would be affected by the extension of contract cleaning.

"Most of these cleaners will receive offers of employment from the new cleaning contractor and there will be generous incentives for those who transfer," Mr Moore said.

"The cleaners who do not receive an offer of employment or who decline an offer, will have the opportunity to transfer to a vacant position at another school."

The Minister said tenderers would be required to honour all accrued sick leave entitlements and address the issues of industrial coverage and conditions of employment in their tender documents.

New cleaning contracts would be advertised tomorrow, with successful tenderers to be announced progressively to allow contractors and cleaners to have sufficient time to negotiate conditions of employment.

Mr Moore said he had instructed the department to continue enterprise bargaining negotiations with the Miscellaneous Workers' Union on behalf of day labour cleaners.

"The combination of efficient contract and day labour cleaning services will maintain the quality of cleaning while producing worthwhile savings which will be retained to further improve the quality of education in our schools," he said.

The Minister said the day labour gardening workforce would be retained.  However, in order to achieve greater efficiencies and improve productivity a process of enterprise bargaining would begin with the MWU.

As part of this improvement process, a comprehensive water conservation program, based on the installation of automatic water reticulation systems in schools across the State would be implemented.

Mr Moore said this would further improve the aesthetic appearance of gardens, while at the same time reducing costs.

"School communities take pride in their schools and the Government is committed to ensuring the highest possible standards are maintained," he said.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez (09) 321 1444 or pgr 480 5325