Hospital lockout resumes at midnight

Spotless Services Ltd will lock out 800 cleaning, kitchen and orderly workers from midnight tonight. The lockout was confirmed after a brief mediation today.

SFWU spokesperson Alastair Duncan said Spotless came to mediation unwilling to changes their position. Once again they are standing outside the framework of a national settlement reached with every other employer in the sector.

"On the one hand Spotless claims it wants to pay low-waged workers even more than it's competitors but when we asked for details, the silence was deafening."

"This will come as no surprise to our members as Spotless has consistently paid among the worst rates in the sector for years."

The SFWU will be calling for community and district health board support during the lockout which is expected to run for at least two weeks.

"The DHB's have the power to fix this dispute but so far appear to be derelict in their public duty." Says Alastair Duncan

ENDS

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