SFWU members working in schools around the country are glad to hear that Trevor Mallard has announced an end to school reviews for the next five years.  The recent reorganisations and closures of schools have left many SFWU members wondering whether their school is next and how certain their employment is for the future. 
 
SFWU members, who are unsure about what the proposed closures and reorganisations within the next 12 months will mean for them, have greeted news of the moratorium with mixed feelings.
 
Service and Food Workers Union members in schools are often contract workers in areas such as cleaning and caretaking.  Historically schools have directly employed cleaners and caretakers, however in recent years the trend has been to contract out this work. 
 
?Contracting out of these workers has meant they are at risk of being overlooked when it comes to decisions about mergers or closures.?  said Darien Fenton, National Secretary of the Service and Food Workers Union.
 
?We do not want to see our members left-out just because they are not directly employed by the schools.  In the process of mergers or closures the Ministry needs to stay mindful of the future of these workers as well as the teachers and pupils.?  
 
?Schools most often contract out the work of cleaners and caretakers for financial reasons, but they overlook the contribution that these workers make to the school society.  This is simply a matter of respect.  Directly employing cleaners and caretakers would mean that they were members of the school staff and part of the school community.?
 
 
For More Information
 
Darien Fenton ? SFWU National Secretary
(027) 436 0089 (mob) - (09) 810 9226 (home)