Spotless blocks $16 million pay out to low paid hospital workers

The actions of a rogue employer, Spotless Services, is blocking the payout of a $16 million pay rise to over three thousand low paid hospital workers, says the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa Tota Inc (SFWU).

Union spokesperson Alastair Duncan says Spotless Services Ltd has refused to sign up to a national pay scale for three thousand hospital cleaners, orderlies and kitchen staff, frustrating thousands of workers and the rest of the industry.

"After a year of intense political lobbying and months of bargaining, all other employers in the sector, except Spotless, have reached an understanding over the pay rates with the union.

"Spotless, who pay the lowest wages in the industry, is now frustrating the roll-out of a national pay scale. The District Health Boards and the three contractors, ISS, OCS and Compass have accepted the new scale but Spotless is holding out. These are the actions of a rogue employer."

Proposed pay rates for the national pay scale start at $14.25 moving to $20.56 for senior staff.

"Spotless claims it wants to negotiate but in the same breath says it will not agree to pay the same wages which the additional funding provides.

"Too many Spotless staff are already paid on or close to the minimum wage of $11.25 and the new deal would deliver pay rises of between $2 and $3 an hour," says Alastair Duncan.

One thousand Spotless workers are currently holding stop-work meetings to vote on a national strike scheduled to start at 7.00 am Thursday 12th.

Two thousand other union members, employed by the DHB's and other contractors are expected to provide financial and moral support to the Spotless workers.

Spotless runs services in Invercargill, Timaru, Palmerston, Hawkes Bay, Wanganui, Rotorua, Gisborne, Tauranga, Waitemata, Counties Manukau and Northland.

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