28 June 2016

Wage gap remains at Foodstuffs stores in Nelson

More than six months after the union representing retail workers started recruiting members at New World Nelson and Pak’n Save Richmond, the local owners of the two supermarket giants are digging their heels in and refusing to negotiate fair pay for supermarket workers.

“We’re frustrated with the owners’ hard line refusal to even discuss pay rates, let alone include them in a collective agreement with our members,” said FIRST Union’s Nelson-based organiser Rachel Boyack.

“The owners seem to be sticking to their Employer Advocate’s comments earlier in the year that South Island workers should be paid less than their North Island counterparts.”

Supermarket workers in unionised North Island stores are paid approximately $2 more per hour than South Island supermarket workers.

“Next week FIRST Union is taking the owners to the Employment Relations Authority to test whether their refusal to negotiate better pay is legal,’ said Boyack.

“Unions have been around for over 100 years and we won’t be going away. We’re determined to drag the South Island Foodstuffs stores into the 21st century, whether they like it or not, and that means securing fair pay and decent conditions for working people.”

“It’s unacceptable in this day and age that many working people are unable to earn enough to provide for themselves and their families while their bosses make enormous profits.”
ends

© Scoop Media