KEY POINTS:
Public hospital patients won't go without lunch during today's national strike by 2800 support workers.
That's the way the Service and Food Workers Union members want their strike to be.
The 90-minute lunchtime walk-out, when many members will hold protests outside hospitals, is an initial threat to their employers at district health boards and four contracting companies.
It is also an appeal for public support. But if the orderlies, cleaners, cooks and other support workers' demands for a national employment agreement are not met, more disruptive action is likely.
"Our aim is not to disrupt the hospitals and the services to patients," said union advocate Shane Vugler, "it's to sound a clear message to the DHBs that they do need to recognise the plight of their low-paid staff.
"This is effectively a warning shot so they can avoid an escalation of the dispute next year."
The Auckland board said patients' meals at its facilities were unaffected, although some would be delivered by volunteers. For staff, menus would be limited and one cafe would close during the strike.
Mr Vugler said the union wanted to merge 44 contracts into one multi-employer collective agreement to resist trends such as the contracting out of services.
