CDHB Fails To Front Despite Request From Minister

Wednesday 14 September 2005

CDHB Fails To Front Despite Request From Minister

“NUPE members are angry that the Canterbury District Health Board failed to take up an opportunity to end the five day strike at Canterbury District Health Board’s (CDHB) Hospitals at a rally at Labour Party HQ today,” said Martin Cooney, organiser with the National Union of Public Employees (NUPE).

He was commenting after roughly 250 striking NUPE members marched from a picket outside CDHB HQ (Luney House) at 11am to Labour Party HQ (Tim Barnett’s office) at 12 noon. “The strikers were told by Tim Barnett’s office that the Minister of Health Annette King had asked the Chairperson of the CDHB to address the striking workers. Such a demonstration of goodwill from the Board and the Government would have allowed the strike to be called off.”

“When the Board Chairperson failed to front after 30 minutes the mood turned ugly and the 250 striking workers threatened to go back and storm into the Board’s offices.”

“Delegates calmed the situation down by noting that the gesture from the Government was appreciated while it was the Board’s response that was infuriating,” said Martin Cooney. “The unveiling of the alternative credit card was somewhat overshadowed by the events.”

“Delegates are currently meeting at 4pm to decide what to do from here,” said Martin Cooney.

ENDS

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