Daily Lockout Update - Day 4

Highlights from the lockout sites:

Kaitaia

Kaitaia members will join the picket line in Whangarei tomorrow. Meanwhile the scabs are refusing to turn up to cover. Members have noted that the number of scab workers in the hospital has dropedd by as much as 50% since Tuesday.

North Shore (AKL)

$200-$300 raised in donations from hospital visitors and members of the public as well as other hospital staff (doctors, nurses, admin etc..) Members reclaimed the cafetaria by holding a 'sit-in'. Tomorrow North Shore workers will be visited by Waitakere members for a BBQ lunch and a 'Chant-Off' union chanting competition.

Waitakere (AKL)

So far the picket line has been visited by Waitakere City Mayor Bob Harvey, MP Lynne Pillay and SFWU Northern President Sharryn Hough. The members are gearing up for tomorrows visit to North Shore hospital and possibly some early morning action.

Middlemore (AKL)

Collected over $250 in donations, made a huge noise all day in front of the hospital and enjoyed the nice sunshine. Kitchen workers found out that Spotless had forgotten to sign their lockout notices and worked from 6-8am before deciding to join the orderlies and cleaners on the picket line.

Tauranga

Held a march into the main street and visited local Maori radio station - they got an interview immediately and lots of support from the community.

Rotorua

Have been getting daily visits from the local paper plus support from the City Mayor and local MPs.

Gisborne

100% of members have been on the picket line in the rain today. Members have been getting lots of donations of food from supportive locals.

Wanganui

Yesterday members and supporters went to the Whanganui District Court to support two orderly members who were arrested for trespassing last week. Today they were shocked to find Spotless had put on the cost of bussing commerical cleaners to the hospital to cover the loacked out workers.

Hastings

Stormy weather put a dampener on, members plan to spend the rainy days in the main street collecting donations.

Palmerston Nth

Yesterday members picketed the DHB meeting and made so much noise they were distracting DHB members inside. The Board reportedly was told not to "get too emotional" about the issue as it was for management to decide not for those in governance (i.e the Board members).

Invercargill

'The Lockout Cafe' has been serving coffee outside Invercargill hospital and today made over $300 in donations! They hope to raise more tomorrow and are planning what they will do next.

ENDS

Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota
www.sfwu.org

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