Time for Union to Tell Full Story

Spotless Services Media Release

18 July 2007

Time for Union to Tell Full Story

The SFWU has responded predictably to Spotless’ revelation that the union stands to gain financially from an agreement it has settled with the DHBs. The union is demanding that Spotless sign up to that agreement without the opportunity to bargain. Industry-wide employee figures suggest the SFWU could profit to the tune of $1 million over two years.

The SFWU has also claimed Spotless is somehow not justified in raising this issue – that it is a diversionary tactic of some kind. On the contrary, it is fundamental to this dispute and the way the SFWU has misled the public.

“To generate strike sympathy, the SFWU has spent the last two weeks peddling a story to its members and the public that Spotless is blocking funds from staff and somehow seeking to profit from the new DHB funding. That has always been completely untrue,” said Mark Russell, General Manager Spotless Healthcare.

“But all the while, it has actually been the union that is clipping the ticket and stands to profit massively – up to $1 million based on total industry staff figures ($300,000 - $400,000 for non-unionised Spotless staff only).”

“This has never been a wage dispute. Spotless has made numerous wage guarantees just as a starting point for bargaining,”said Russell.

Spotless has already made the following wage guarantees:

- that it will pass every cent of additional DHB funding onto its staff (and has agreed to auditing mechanisms to provide certainty)

- that every Spotless employee will receive, as a bottomline, comparable wages to DHB staff

- that every current Spotless employee will receive wages at least as high as DHB staff – with the opportunity for some to earn more.

Spotless also wants to discuss with the union a simple, targeted link between pay and skills that we believe is important for building staff capability and leadership qualities, which we see as good news for staff, Spotless and the productivity of the health sector. The union refuses to discuss this.

“Spotless was not involved in negotiations that resulted in the SFWU’s settlement with the DHBs. The union presented it to Spotless as an ultimatum – sign it or else.”

“Spotless is the sector’s biggest employer and it is crazy to think we cannot negotiate the specific details of our employment agreement. We have some good ideas around skill building and we want to explore them with the union in bargaining.”

“It is time for the union to drop the rhetoric about ‘multi-nationals’, ‘bully-boy tactics’ and start bargaining for its members. We need the union to lift its strikes, so that we can lift our lock outs and get on with finding a settlement for employees,” said Russell.

ENDS

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