KEY POINTS:
About 700 hospital service and food workers have been issued with lockout notices by companies who contract for the district health boards (DHBs).
Earlier this week the Service and Food Workers Union (SFWU) announced 4160 separate strike actions on behalf of 2800 cleaning and catering staff and orderlies employed in public hospitals around New Zealand.
SFWU bargaining co-ordinator Alastair Duncan said ISS had issued seven days of lockout notices effective May 31, while two other contractors, Compass and OCS issued lockout notices for just one day, May 31.
The fourth contracting company, Spotless Services, did not issue a notice.
The four companies employ about two thirds of the workers. The rest are employed by the DHBs directly.
ISS chief executive officer Brian Young this morning confirmed a lockout notice had been issued to the staff.
The workers are seeking a Multi-Employer Collective Agreement (MECA) to standardise pay around the country.
Mr Duncan said the lockout targeted the lowest paid workers in the public sector and smacked of bully boy tactics and discrimination.
"No one threatens to lock out doctors or nurses. But low paid service workers appear to be fair game."
Council of Trade Unions (CTU) president Ross Wilson said the lockout was the action of "corporate bullies who had a "callous disregard" for the low paid workers and their families.
"Service and support staff in hospitals are some of the lowest paid workers in the country," he said.
"It is an indictment of these huge multi-national companies that they have reacted with lockout notices, because these workers have organised together to claim a collective agreement to improve their pitiful wages."
Mr Wilson called on the companies to return to negotiations with an open mind.
The National Distribution Union (NDU) has condemned the lockout and pledged its support to a union movement campaign.
NDU national secretary Laila Harre said the workers needed practical solidarity.
"These essential hospital workers live and work in communities all over New Zealand and they need our support."
"The unions have not been responding to our counter proposals on the bargaining table, so we have responded by issuing lockout notices in support of our position," Mr Young said.
He was hopeful a settlement could be reached before the lockouts in two weeks.
"We're certainly willing to sit down and talk with the union at any time."
- NZPA
