Our public hospitals are in turmoil today after orderlies and cleaners employed by Australian contractor Spotless Services walked off the job again. The reason? Because despite agreeing last year to pay its workers properly, and receiving funds from the DHBs to do so, Spotless has reneged and refused to lift wages. Instead, government money specifically tagged for increasing wages and improving working conditions is flowing straight into the pockets of Spotless's Aussie owners.
This is unacceptable - not just because this company is dishonestly misappropriating taxpayer's money, but also because that misappropriation is disrupting our health system. And I'm with Darien Fenton and Sue Bradford: if contractors will not keep to their agreements and provide the services they have contracted to provide (which in this case includes well-paid workers), then its time for them to go.
