CTU MEDIA RELEASE
08 December 2006
Hospitals Would Benefit From MECA for Service Workers
Hospitals would benefit from having a multi-employer collective agreement for service and support workers, the Council
of Trade Unions said today.
“MECAs are a positive framework within which to address a number of issues relevant to the support staff workforce in
hospitals, including health and safety, standards, training and pay.”
“As we were reminded with practice nurses yesterday, with the right will, employers can come together at an industry
level and collectively bargain with workers, and produce good results.”
“Service and support staff in hospitals are some of the lowest paid workers in the country. Many of them are reliant on
movements in the statutory minimum wage to see any increase in their pay.”
“A healthy hospital is one where all staff, including service staff, are treated with respect. We urge the DHBs to come
back to the negotiations with an open mind about a MECA for support workers, and consider the benefits it would bring to
hospitals.”
Ends.