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Support the 220 National Distribution Union members employed by Foodstuffs DC who are walking off the job across the South Island on Thursday afternoon (3rd September) in protest at the lack of any offer from Foodstuffs South Island to improve their wages and conditions.
After 6 months of fruitless negotiations NDU members will not only walk off the job, they intend to also protest outside the supermarkets owned by some of the Foodstuffs Board members.
In Christchurch, these places will be:
Halswell New World
Owned by Barry Gray.
Where: 346-360 Halswell Road, Christchurch
Time: 12.30 – 2.30pm
map
After 6 months of fruitless negotiations NDU members will not only walk off the job, they intend to also protest outside the supermarkets owned by some of the Foodstuffs Board members.
In Christchurch, these places will be:
Halswell New World
Owned by Barry Gray.
Where: 346-360 Halswell Road, Christchurch
Time: 12.30 – 2.30pm
map
Northlands Pak n Save
Owned by Stephen Boock.
Where: Northlands Shopping Centre, Main North Road/Sissons Drive, Papanui
Time: 2.15 – 4.00pm
Despite negotiations commencing in February the company has consistently refused to improve the wages and conditions of members at negotiations. By offering nothing - no wage increase, no improved conditions - it has made a mockery of a genuine bargaining process.
The Union believes the company is acting in bad faith and is using the recession rhetoric to prevent legitimate and well overdue pay rises. By contrast, Foodstuffs’ main competitor Progressive Enterprises (owners of Woolworths, Countdown and Foodtown) supermarkets pays $3-$4 more per hour for doing the same work.
Foodstuffs controls 57% of the NZ supermarket industry. All members are asking for is a fair decent living wage.
The Union hopes to get the support from members of the public thru signing a Public petition calling on CEO Steve Anderson (who earns $18,000 per week) to share some of Foodstuffs’ big profits with their low paid staff. Feel free to start gathering names during and after the strike action and fax it to our Christchurch Office (03) 366-6150.
