Hospital actions likely next week

Press, 8 February 1985, Page 3

Hospital actions likely next week

Orderlies and domestic workers employed in public hospitals in Christchurch will take some form of industrial action, probably later next week. This results from the collapse of talks on their national award for the

second time, in Auckland on Wednesday. The Christchurch workers have already voted to take direct action if the talks fail, and the mass meeting to be held some time next week will be to decide what form of action.

An organiser for the Canterbury Hotel, Hospital and Related Trades’ Union, Mr Martin Moodie, said that the action would be designed to have minimal impact on patients. The advocate for the hospitaLboard employers, Mr Hugp Philbert, said em-

ployers went to Wednesday’s talks in Auckland wanting to settle. Employers showed that withdrawing a counterclaim on wages would have reduced the minimum rate under the award, he said.

The union identified 19 items it wanted to look at, excluding a wage claim. Mr Philbert said employers responded on nine items, making significant concessions in some cases. They also offered wage increases based on the State

movement, or 6.5 per cent for rates not State-linked. “The union rejected our offer without comment or reason,” Mr Philbert said. The dispute had been referred to the Arbitration Court by the conciliator, and he expected it Jo be dealt with urgently.