MEDIA RELEASE: Spotless Workers Vote for more Strike Action
Cleaners, food service workers and orderlies in public hospitals have voted to step up their action against Spotless.
The Service and Food Workers Union has announced that votes held by members yesterday have endorsed a further round of
ongoing strike action and an intensive campaign to force Spotless to either pay union members their pay increase or get
out of the public hospital system.
SFWU Industrial Coordinator Shane Vugler said that Spotless had made huge profits in the public health sector in New
Zealand and internationally over the last financial year.
"Spotless agreed to increase their workers' pay rates to a minimum of $14.25/hour last year and now they are refusing to
pay in order to squeeze more money out of the District Health Boards and the taxpayer."
The Service and Food Workers Union is welcoming decisions by Southland and Waitemata District Health Boards to get rid
of Spotless from some of their services after May 1st.
"Given the attitude of Spotless to their workforce we do not believe that they are suitable employer to be contracting
in the public hospital system," said Shane Vugler.
ENDS
www.sfwu.org