Spotless Services Media Release

13 July 2007

Spotless Calls for Mediation to End Strike

Spotless Services has called upon the Service and Food Workers' Union (SFWU) to withdraw its strike notices and meet with the Department of Labour Mediation Service mediators to bring an end to the current hospital service strike.

"We have contacted both the SFWU and the Department of Labour today. We want to get around the table and find a solution. But we need the SFWU to withdraw its strike notices," said Mark Russell, General Manager Spotless Healthcare.

"We have not yet had a chance to discuss our starting offer directly with the union."

"As a starting point for negotiations, Spotless has committed to pay every current Spotless worker at least as much as what is being offered by the DHBs and agreed to auditing mechanisms to make sure it passes on every cent granted by DHBs."

"If the SFWU is still not happy with the outcome of bargaining, then it still has the right to strike. But at the moment we have a dispute that can be resolved through negotiation we believe."

"If the SFWU withdraws its strike notices, Spotless will withdraw its lock out notices. That has always been our position," said Russell.

ENDS

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