Spotless lifts lockout against cleaners

28 February 2001

SPOTLESS LIFTS LOCK OUT AGAINST CLEANERS

Cleaners at Wellington, Kenepuru, Porirua and Paraparaumu Hospitals are back at work after their employer, Spotless Services, lifted the lock out notice issued in response to strike action from the Services and Food Workers Union.

"A negotiated settlement was always our preferred option," says Spotless spokesperson Yvonne Treen. "The union has shown a willingness to go back to negotiation by withdrawing all the strike notices, so it was in this spirit that we lifted the lock out."

Ms Treen says Spotless was very conscious of the impact of industrial action on its own staff at CCH. The union's decision to lift all strike notices allowed negotiations to be held in a calmer atmosphere, rather than the issues being debated in the public forum.

While there is as yet no settlement between the parties, Ms Treen says it's time to go back to the table and work out the remaining issues that had stalemated around redundancy provisions.

"The union should be very well aware by now that genuine compromise is required on all sides and we will be looking for evidence of this when we meet on Friday."

Ends

For further information please contact:

Yvonne Treen Spotless Services Ltd

Tel: 09 526 3624 mob: 021 650 023

ytreen@spotless.co.nz

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