Mediation between Spotless Services Ltd and the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) to avoid strike action failed yesterday.
 
As a result over 800 cleaners across the following hospitals will be striking for 24 hours on Wednesday the 2nd April.

The workers are employed at Kaitaia Hospital, Bay of Islands Hospital (Kawakawa), Whangarei Hospital, North Shore Hospital, Waitakere Hospital, Middlemore Hospital, Manukau Superclinic, Pukekohe Hospital, Franklin Hospital (Waiuku), Tauranga Hospital, Rotorua Hospital, Gisborne Hospital, Palmerston North Hospital, Wanganui Hospital, Hawkes Bay Hospital, Kew Hospital, Wairarapa Hospital, and Timaru Hospital.

Although Spotless agrees with the rates cleaners are entitled to, they are refusing to pay those rates because of a funding dispute with the District Health Boards.
 
 "It is totally unacceptable that low-paid workers in our public hospitals are being forced to lose income and put patient safety at risk because Spotless and the DHB's can't do simple arithmetic."  Said SFWU Industrial Co-ordinator Shane Vugler
 
"Spotless and the DHB's have had nine months to sort out the funding issues and now they are using their low-paid staff as scapegoats for their own mismanagement.  They are putting patients at risk as a consequence" 
 
END
 
For Further information:
 
Shane Vugler
Industrial Co-ordinator
(027) 544 6941