Take Action to Support Striking South African Cleaners!
clean sweep | 12.09.2006 21:12 | Globalisation | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | London
Hold Multinational Corporations Accountable for Cleaners’ Poverty Wages!
On September 13th, cleaners and supporters in New York, London, Hamburg,
Sao Paolo, the Hague, Sydney, Chicago, Boston and other cities will take
action to support South African office cleaners who have been on strike
for more than one month.
On September 13th, cleaners and supporters in New York, London, Hamburg,
Sao Paolo, the Hague, Sydney, Chicago, Boston and other cities will take
action to support South African office cleaners who have been on strike
for more than one month.
Cleaners will conduct a “Day of Global Action” aimed at convincing wealthy multinational corporations like Bayer, J.P. Morgan and KPMG to take immediate steps to improve the wages of South African janitors who clean their facilities.
Why are South African cleaners forced into poverty even as they clean the offices of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world?
Background:
About 20,000 cleaners in South Africa went on strike August 1, 2006. The cleaners are protesting wages that consign them to a life of poverty in South Africa’s slums. Cleaning contractors in urban areas pay workers only 0.92€ per hour despite the fact their clients are wealthy multinationals and commercial building owners. Last year, Bayer which has three offices in three South African cities, recorded profits of US $2 billion. J.P. Morgan had profits of US $8.5 billion. Global firms like Bayer and JP Morgan have largely remained on the sidelines—content with cleaning companies’ efforts to keep cleaners in low-paid, dead-end jobs.
We expect our support actions to continue and to grow in more cities until South African cleaners win their struggle. So please pass on the word and help us organize more global support.
In solidarity
Hamburg
WHEN: Wednesday, 13 September from 08:15-09:35
WHERE: KPMG’s offices on Ludwig-Erhard-Straße 11-17, Hamburg
WHAT: Leafletting in front of KPMG’s offices
London
WHEN: Wednesday, 13 September from 12 noon on
WHERE: JP Morgan offices on 125 London Wall
WHAT: Leafletting in front of JP Morgan offices
PRESS CONTACT: Fred 0151-11082591
Why are South African cleaners forced into poverty even as they clean the offices of some of the wealthiest corporations in the world?
Background:
About 20,000 cleaners in South Africa went on strike August 1, 2006. The cleaners are protesting wages that consign them to a life of poverty in South Africa’s slums. Cleaning contractors in urban areas pay workers only 0.92€ per hour despite the fact their clients are wealthy multinationals and commercial building owners. Last year, Bayer which has three offices in three South African cities, recorded profits of US $2 billion. J.P. Morgan had profits of US $8.5 billion. Global firms like Bayer and JP Morgan have largely remained on the sidelines—content with cleaning companies’ efforts to keep cleaners in low-paid, dead-end jobs.
We expect our support actions to continue and to grow in more cities until South African cleaners win their struggle. So please pass on the word and help us organize more global support.
In solidarity
Hamburg
WHEN: Wednesday, 13 September from 08:15-09:35
WHERE: KPMG’s offices on Ludwig-Erhard-Straße 11-17, Hamburg
WHAT: Leafletting in front of KPMG’s offices
London
WHEN: Wednesday, 13 September from 12 noon on
WHERE: JP Morgan offices on 125 London Wall
WHAT: Leafletting in front of JP Morgan offices
PRESS CONTACT: Fred 0151-11082591
clean sweep