Andrew Gee.
MEMBER for Orange Andrew Gee is calling on HealthShare representatives to come to Orange and give employees of Orange Linen Service a full explanation as to why their jobs are on the line.
Mr Gee said his meeting with HealthShare NSW chief executive officer Mike Rillstone on Tuesday was tense. He felt the issue had been badly handled, leaving employees in limbo.
Mr Gee met with Mr Rillstone after 49 linen service workers walked off the job on Monday to protest possible job losses at the Orange Linen Service.
Mr Gee said, from his meeting with Mr Rillstone, he had ascertained up to 30 jobs could be affected by the proposal to send the Prince of Wales Hospital’s linen, which is currently laundered by Orange Linen Service, sent to similar services in Paramatta and Newcastle to save on transport costs.
He says the Orange employees are owed a face-to-face explanation by the CEO.
“He [Mr Rillstone] needs to show what analysis has been done to make the Orange/Sydney freight more competitive and he also needs to produce the business case for moving the Prince of Wales work out of Orange,” Mr Gee said.
“I’m still not convinced HealthShare has explored all the avenues for Orange to keep the Prince of Wales business and I’m not sure HealthShare understands Orange should be given a chance to keep the business.”
Mr Gee said he was disappointed HeralthShare was reluctant to discuss operational and business issues so he could represent the employees who were at risk of losing their jobs.
