Building Service Contractors of New Zealand Inc

MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release

3 November 2006

Union protest “disappointing”

The Building Services Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ) - the trade association representing the contract cleaning industry - is surprised and disappointed that the Service and Food Workers Union has chosen to protest at an event that champions excellence and achievement by the very workers they claim to represent.

BSCNZ President Brian Young said the Kimberly-Clark Golden Service Awards, held today (Friday) in Auckland, recognised professionalism and the highest standards of service delivery among workers employed by the “responsible segment of the cleaning industry”.

“For our workers, the Golden Ser vice Awards are their Oscars. This is an event which is keenly competed for each year. It’s disappointing that a small number of union activist chose to try to upstage these celebrations.”

Mr Young said BSCNZ was on record as welcoming the dialogue generated by the launch of the union’s Clean Start campaign.

A very small group of union members staged a brief pavement protest but soon packed up and departed.

“But we’re not the ones the union should be targeting. Our members' wage rates are required to be in line with the industry Multi Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) – offering minimum rates that are higher than what is required by law - and which is negotiated with the union. In addition, our members do not pay youth rates, we adhere to strict health and safety guidelines and are key promoters of professional training and qualifications via the Building Services Industry Training Organisation.”

ENDS

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