Thousands of Woolworths workers, feeling “underpaid, understaffed, and undervalued,” are set to walk off the job on Tuesday, according to their union. This will mark the first nationwide strike by supermarket employees in New Zealand, taking place between 12 pm and 2 pm in stores across the country.
Rudd Hughes, the National Secretary for Retail and Finance at First Union, shared that while the ongoing pay negotiations with Woolworths have been frustrating, workers are eager and enthusiastic about participating in this historic walkout. “We’ve been negotiating with Woolworths for over 13 days, trying to secure a fair deal for our workers, but we’re still far apart on critical issues like pay, safety, and adequate staffing,” Hughes explained.
Hughes also pointed out that the company’s offers so far have been inadequate, with wage increases falling below the rising cost of living, and no real effort has been made to address the chronic understaffing that has plagued stores.
In response, a spokesperson for Woolworths New Zealand stated that the stores will remain open during the strike and that the company has made a strong offer in negotiations. “We’ve proposed wage increases of 6.8% to 10.1% over two years, in addition to the 19% increase we agreed on in 2022. We are among the top-paying employers in our sector,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also emphasized the need to balance rising costs within the business to keep food prices affordable for customers, particularly in the current challenging economic environment.
A major rally is planned outside the Ponsonby Woolworths in Auckland, where workers from more than 20 stores will gather. Thousands more from 190 supermarkets nationwide are expected to join the strike.
Last month, Woolworths workers voted to take three initial strike actions after negotiations failed to reach an agreement. These actions included non-compliance with media and social media policies, wearing strike stickers on their uniforms reading “underpaid, undervalued, understaffed,” and distributing “receipt”-style flyers to customers at ten specific stores.
Michelle McKenzie, a duty supervisor at Church Corner Woolworths in Christchurch, highlighted the financial struggles many workers face. “With the rising cost of living, many of us are just getting by week to week. If something unexpected happens, like a car breakdown or a medical bill, a lot of Woolworths workers would be in serious trouble. We simply don’t get paid enough to save for a rainy day.”
In its statement, Woolworths also mentioned that it is investing $45 million in a program to improve safety in its stores. This includes installing safety cameras, trolley locks, fog cannons, and double-entry gates. The company is also considering bringing in duress alarms for employees working in isolated areas. Additionally, since 2022, improvements have been made to employee benefits, including sick leave, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, and discounts.
Source: TIN Bureau