Cleaners rubbish Melbourne

Melbourne cleaners dumped rubbish in the CBD today to highlight their fight for a collective agreement.

About 50 cleaners marched through central Melbourne urging their employers to sign a new national agreement, which would protect them against low wages and short shifts.

Jess Walsh of the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous union said it is time for change.

"Cleaners are today saying it is time to sign. It's time to put an end to poverty wages and short shifts within the industry," she said.

Cleaner Paul Gonzales says cleaners are being taken advantage of.

"The only way to get fair conditions incorporated into the workplace is to make sure there is a charter in place," he said.

As the cleaners dumped the rubbish they chanted "who is going to clean this city? No one."

Their union is negotiating with 50 of Australia's biggest cleaning companies.

The pay deal is the culmination of a two year campaign by cleaners to win longer shifts and a reasonable wage.

They want shifts of four hours minimum and better pay for cleaners who earn on average $300 per week.

Ms Walsh said cleaning and hygiene standards have been falling in buildings all over the city because of short shifts and low pay.

"Going into the city each day for 2 hours work just isn't worth it. That's only $30 dollars after you pay for parking or trams," she said.