You probably don’t have the same emotional connection with cleaners that you might have with librarians, firefighters or police. Cleaners’ jobs are not glamorous; but cleaners are the unsung behind-the-scenes workers that keep our city clean and safe. 

We don’t often consider the importance of cleaners, which makes them easy targets when governments look for cuts.

In this video, meet the dedicated heavy-duty cleaners from Toronto Police Services. The City wants to give their jobs away to private companies who will pay their workers close to minimum wage. Could you support your family on $11.50 an hour? Workers deserve to earn a living wage.

And the end result?  Cleaners from private companies don’t stick around. The strenuous work and low pay is not a job anyone wants to do for long.  The high turnover prevents the development of highly-trained workers who, with years of experience, know all the ins and outs of Toronto’s old buildings. It also poses a security risk as now familiar faces in cleaning crews become a thing of the past.

Click here to send an email to your City Councillor in support of Toronto’s cleaners.