Respect the cleaners who keep us safe
Airport cleaning isn’t just about keeping things tidy, it’s essential to keeping travellers, staff, and the public safe and healthy. But too often, the people who do this vital work are underpaid, overworked, and overlooked.
The Safe Airports campaign is about standing up for fair pay, respect, and decent conditions for all airport workers, including for the cleaners who keep our terminals, toilets, and trolleys clean day in and day out.
This is a fight for:
• Fair wages – including the Living Wage
• Safer, healthier working conditions
• A voice at work and respect on the job
• Decent breaks and proper staffing levels
• Secure work – not constant turnover and low hours
Cleaners are essential to keeping airports running, but the companies that profit from their work often treat them as disposable. That’s not good enough. and it’s time to change it.
E tū members are standing together. We won’t be ignored.
What is the Safe Airports Campaign?
Safe Airports is our Aviation campaign to ensure all airport and aviation workers are part of a community of safety.
We want good pay, decent work and clear standards of safety and security at all airports for all workers. Our initial focus will be Auckland airport with activity spreading to other airports over time.
Who is part of Safe Airports?
The campaign is led by E tū, New Zealand’s largest private sector union with thousands of workers across all parts of the aviation sector.
Safe Airports brings together all workers across airports to achieve our goals. We want to work with other unions, community leaders, passengers, employers, iwi, and government to achieve a safe environment for everyone.
When we work together we have a stronger voice. Safe Airports will see workers across the airport supporting each other to make this a better and safer place for everyone.
Support a Living Wage for the Cleaners Who Keep Auckland Airport Running
Cleaners play an essential role in keeping Auckland Airport clean, safe, welcoming, and operational. From terminals and public areas to staff facilities and high-traffic spaces, their work ensures that millions of passengers, visitors, workers, and airline staff can use Auckland Airport with confidence.
While these cleaners are employed through contracted cleaning companies, their work is carried out across the Auckland Airport environment. They are an important part of the airport community and contribute directly to the experience, safety, and wellbeing of everyone who passes through Auckland Airport.
Like many working people, cleaners and their families are facing significant cost-of-living pressures. The cost of rent, groceries, power bills, transport, healthcare, and other everyday household expenses continues to rise. Many cleaners are working hard every day but still struggle to make ends meet and provide financial security for their families.
We believe that the people who help keep Auckland Airport running deserve fair pay, respect, and dignity at work. A Living Wage is an important step toward ensuring that cleaners can meet the real cost of living and participate fully in their communities.
We respectfully call on Auckland Airport to:
- Commit to supporting a Living Wage for cleaners working under Auckland Airport cleaning contracts.
- Meet directly with a delegation of cleaners to hear their experiences, understand the challenges they face, and discuss how Auckland Airport can support this campaign.
We believe that by working together, Auckland Airport, cleaning contractors, cleaners, and the wider community can find solutions that recognise the vital contribution cleaners make every day.