NSW: Linen strike to hit hospitals

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2000
NSW: Linen strike to hit hospitals

Public hospital staff across New South Wales will begin a costly industrial campaign
tonight to bring home their concerns about a funding crisis in the state's health system.

The NSW Health and Research Employees Association says its public hospital members
have voted to impose bans on the handling and transport of linen to public hospitals,
starting from midnight tonight.

Association state secretary MICHAEL WILLIAMSON says members will deliver clean linen
and remove dirty linen from patient areas, but won't take it away to be washed.

He says members are protesting against continuing staff cuts and budget restructuring.

Mr WILLIAMSON says because of the industrial action, linen will need to be destroyed
within three days and fresh linen supplied.

He says members don't want to impact on patient care, and relunctantly decided in favour
of the industrial action.

AAP RTV nd/sb/rp

KEYWORD: LINEN (SYDNEY)

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