On Thursday, 4 September at 18:30, Mark Bergfeld, Director of Property Services and Care at the European division of UNI Global Union, will give a talk for the Efling Union Delegate Council at Fosshótel Reykjavík, Þórunnartún 1.
In his presentation, Mark will discuss how public procurement can be a powerful tool for promoting social justice for cleaning workers. Every year, public bodies spend large sums on cleaning contracts, but too often the lowest bid is accepted without regard for social responsibility. The consequences fall on cleaning staff who work evenings and nights, face insecure employment, and receive low wages.
Mark will highlight how this trend can be reversed by including social clauses in tenders. Such clauses can ensure daytime work, increase the visibility of the occupation, improve conditions, and promote respect and fairness in the sector.
Efling Union has long fought for better conditions for cleaning staff, and drew attention to the issue last March when a well-attended meeting of the union’s Delegate Council sent a resolution to the Confederation of Icelandic Employers and the Government of Iceland, urging them to honour collective agreements and ensure acceptable working conditions in outsourced cleaning.
The union has also been in active dialogue with the authorities about the social responsibility of public bodies in this field, but is still awaiting answers on the next steps.
Mark Bergfeld has many years of experience in the struggle of working people across Europe and is available to speak to the media on the subject. The meeting is open to members of the Efling Union Delegate Council.