Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday 20 July 2007

Alliance Party says hospital lockout can be solved by Government action

The Alliance Party says the lockout of eight hundred low paid hospital workers by their employer Spotless Services Ltd is a result of current health policies.

Alliance Party President Victor Billot says the problem is caused by hospital work being outsourced to transnational companies who drive down wages and conditions.

"The Alliance Party says that these workers should be employed directly by the District Health Boards under decent agreements, or improved wage rates and conditions must be built into contracts with providers."

He says that national agreements in the sector should be compulsory.

"We are talking about a vulnerable group of workers here."

He says the current arrangement means the health bureaucracy and the Government can wash their hands of the situation of low paid hospital workers.

"The District Health Boards and the Government have a moral responsibility to these workers and must stop hiding behind contractors."

Mr Billot says the lockout has entered its sixth day and is urging the public to support the locked out workers by donations and by joining pickets.

"It is vital that these workers win this dispute in order to start turning around the low wage system that has become established in New Zealand."

He says the minimum wage rates paid to many of the locked out workers were getting towards Third World levels especially in larger, expensive cities.

Mr Billot says that he hopes workers remember the lack of action from major political parties when it comes to the 2008 election.

"There is no point Labour Party MPs making bold statements then doing nothing. They are the Government after all. If they disapprove of the actions of Spotless then they should change the system – that will be the test of their commitment to these workers."

Mr Billot says the need for a party 100% committed to working people is becoming even more clear.

ENDS

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