Around 10,000 workers at supermarket giant Woolworths in New Zealand have voted for initial strike action over low-wage offers.
In a move confirmed by Woolworths, First Union members voted to take action following nine days of negotiating with the retailer that is “ruling out” a living wage and not addressing understaffing issues, according to New Zealand publication RNZ.
Ross Lampert, First Union national organiser for retail food, reportedly said 95% of members voted in favour of striking, with a smaller group of members across ten key Woolworths stores nationwide also voting for an additional action.
He added that the issues at stake were a living wage, safer staffing levels and increased penalty rates for night and weekend work.
Some actions of the strike include non-compliance with media and social media, strike stickers, and in specific stores, handing out receipt-styled flyers to customers.
Michelle McKenzie, Woolworths duty supervisor and First Union bargaining team member, said via a First Union social media post: “We simply don’t get paid enough to put aside any money for a rainy day – many of us live week to week … It’s a really tough job.
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“We deal with daily abuse in stores that are constantly understaffed, and we need Woolworths to listen carefully and understand why we’ve voted for these initial strike actions.”
Woolworths said in a statement today (6 August) that it had brought a “strong offer to the table” in its discussions with the workers’ union. The retailer added that it pays “near the top of the market already”.
Spencer Sonn, Woolworths New Zealand managing director, said: “We are disappointed that First Union has tabled claims on behalf of its members totalling nearly NZ$1bn (US$592m) over one year – which we believe is unsustainable. Our offer includes a 6.6% increase for our store team on average over two years, and we have a genuine focus on helping our team have long and meaningful careers with us.
“In the current economic environment we have to balance increasing costs and providing value for customers, but making sure our team earns more is also a key priority for us.”
Woolworths will continue to engage with First Union in good faith, he said.
