❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses school cleaner shortages, pay rates, and departmental initiatives to attract and retain cleaning staff in Perth metropolitan schools. The response details current pay, recent increases, recruitment efforts, and flexibility options for schools.
AnsweredQoN 3186Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(a) is the Department of Education and Training aware if any of the above schools are having difficulty finding cleaners and if so which schools;
(b) what initiatives have the Department of Education and Training employed to help government schools in the Perth metropolitan area to find and retain school cleaners;
(c) what is the hourly rate of pay for a school cleaner:
(i) when was this rate of pay established;
(ii) when was the last increase; and
(iii) how much was the last increase;
(d) are government schools allowed to vary the rate of pay in order to attract cleaners when there are two or more vacant cleaning positions that a school is having difficulty filling in the current social and economic environment;
(e) has the Department of Education and Training considered raising the hourly rate for school cleaners; and
(f) what initiatives, if any, have been considered and/or implemented by the Department of Education and Training to provide greater flexibility for schools with regards to the hiring of cleaning staff and if none have been implemented why not?
(b) what initiatives have the Department of Education and Training employed to help government schools in the Perth metropolitan area to find and retain school cleaners;
(c) what is the hourly rate of pay for a school cleaner:
(i) when was this rate of pay established;
(ii) when was the last increase; and
(iii) how much was the last increase;
(d) are government schools allowed to vary the rate of pay in order to attract cleaners when there are two or more vacant cleaning positions that a school is having difficulty filling in the current social and economic environment;
(e) has the Department of Education and Training considered raising the hourly rate for school cleaners; and
(f) what initiatives, if any, have been considered and/or implemented by the Department of Education and Training to provide greater flexibility for schools with regards to the hiring of cleaning staff and if none have been implemented why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 May 2008
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
42 days
(a) Department data indicates schools within the electorate of Alfred Cove are no more than 1 cleaner down on required establishment.
(b) At the beginning of the 2008 school year the Department conducted a radio/newspaper recruitment campaign aimed at attracting cleaners and gardeners. As part of the campaign the Department introduced the 1800 625 985 Cleaners and Gardeners Hotline which is still in place.
The Department is also working with the LHMU to pilot a program providing opportunity to migrant workers.
(c) Calculated on a 38 hour week, a base grade cleaner earns $17.38 an hour whilst a cleaner in charge in a large school can earn up to $20.35 per hour. Allowances for split shifts and toilet cleaning increase these rates
(i) This rate of pay was established 18 May 2007.
(ii) The last increase was 11 January 2008.
(iii) The increase was between 6% and 7%.
(d) The rate of pay is governed by an industrial agreement which the Department is bound by and cannot vary.
(e) N/A
(f) Schools can approve any opportunity to work arrangements which include the opportunity to work in the morning or the afternoon, or a combination of both. In some cases night shifts have been offered in order to attract cleaners, however, in most cases this has not been effective.
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(b) At the beginning of the 2008 school year the Department conducted a radio/newspaper recruitment campaign aimed at attracting cleaners and gardeners. As part of the campaign the Department introduced the 1800 625 985 Cleaners and Gardeners Hotline which is still in place.
The Department is also working with the LHMU to pilot a program providing opportunity to migrant workers.
(c) Calculated on a 38 hour week, a base grade cleaner earns $17.38 an hour whilst a cleaner in charge in a large school can earn up to $20.35 per hour. Allowances for split shifts and toilet cleaning increase these rates
(i) This rate of pay was established 18 May 2007.
(ii) The last increase was 11 January 2008.
(iii) The increase was between 6% and 7%.
(d) The rate of pay is governed by an industrial agreement which the Department is bound by and cannot vary.
(e) N/A
(f) Schools can approve any opportunity to work arrangements which include the opportunity to work in the morning or the afternoon, or a combination of both. In some cases night shifts have been offered in order to attract cleaners, however, in most cases this has not been effective.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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