MEDIA RELEASE

April 2, 2004

Unions, DHB Sign up to Tackle Skill Shortages

The Council of Trade Unions and the Capital and Coast District Health Board will today sign a groundbreaking deal that aims to tackle skill shortages in the construction industry around the Wellington region.

The agreement covers the $303m building and redevelopment project that includes construction of a new regional hospital in Newtown and additions to the hospital at Kenepuru. There will also be extensive upgrading and refurbishment of existing buildings on both sites.

It commits both parties to encourage the best possible employment practices in the construction projects. It also aims to maximise trade training on the sites and ensure the best possible local economic development spin-offs.

Council of Trade Unions secretary Carol Beaumont said the agreement was part of the CTU’s broader agenda of promoting training and economic development as well as securing good wages and safe working conditions.

"At a time of major skill shortages the hospital construction project provides an ideal opportunity to train workers for a number of different trades," she said.

Margot Mains, the CEO of Capital and Coast District Health Board said the organisation was very pleased to sign up to the CTU initiative. "If there is any way that our multi-million dollar construction project can be used to provide more trade training and economic development for the region, we are all for it," she said.

The construction projects will take place over the next four years with the new hospital building at Newtown due to be completed at the end of 2007.

Carol Beaumont and Margot Mains will sign the agreement at Margot Mains’ Wellington Hospital office, Mein Street, Newtown at 11.30am, Friday, April 2, 2004. Media are invited.

ENDS

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New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

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