Orderlies in union row

Press, 23 March 1985, Page 8

Orderlies in union row

PA Dunedin Union members are refusing to work with non-union staff in a war involving Dunedin Hospital orderlies which has left one man suspended from work on full pay. Patients have not been affected by the dispute sparked by the resignation of a charge orderly, Mr C. A. Harris, from the Otago Hotel, Hospital, Restaurant and Related Trades Union a year ago.

But a spokesman said patients certainly would be affected if union labour deserted the hospital. Mr Harris has been off work for five weeks because other workers, belonging to the union, will not work with him.

Hospital management made the decision to send him home until the matter was resolved to avoid disruption to patient care. He has been offered a job in the fracture clinic where he would not be in touch with other orderlies and would suffer no loss of pay, said the Hospital Board’s chairman, Mrs D. R. Fraser.

But one of five other orderlies who have resigned from the union in support of Mr Harris, Mr Gerard Lucas, said the fracture clinic job was one most orderlies “hated”.

He resigned as a delegate, after more than eight years with the union, 18 months ago. He said he was unhappy with new union management