Bunnings workers start on NZ$6 less than our Aussie co-workers

Kiwi workers at Bunnings start on $12.00 an hour while our co-workers across the ditch start on a union rate of NZ$18.44 an hour which will increase to NZ$19 an hour in July. Bunnings is owned by Australia's richest company, Wesfarmers.

It's not as if Bunnings charge customers less here and their employees have a similar cost of living in both countries. This is the union wage gap - collective bargaining in Australia has kept wages reasonable, and that's why Bunnings workers have been joining our union in their hundreds.

Bunnings has actively undermined workers

Union members organising for a livable wage have been bullied and bribed. The company's tactics are becoming increasingly bizarre.

The company threatened staff with trespass and gave others monopoly boards when they took action last Christmas in protest at the company's 0% wage offer and refusal to include wage rates in a union agreement. When workers decided to hold a national stop work, Bunning's tried to bribe staff by offering free pizza for lunch during the meeting. They also called a mufti day to try and keep their logo and brand out of the protests and the public eye.

We've won some increases, but we need your help

Following union action the company lifted the starting rate new minimum wage of $12 an hour two months early and gave some staff a small pay rise but denied it was related to the union. But the majority of staff, including long serving workers received no pay increase.

Workers and their union are asking customers and the public to call their local Bunnings store manager's on: 0800 HARDWARE or to email Bunnings New Zealand General Manager at brad.cranston@bunnings.co.nz to ask the company to go back into bargaining and to offer fair and livable wages.

Latest photos

	Bunnings stopwork at National HQ	06/03/2008
	Bunnings Newton, Wellington protest	19/12/2007
	Protest at Bunnings North Shore	15/12/2007
	Bunnings Botany Down protest over 0% wage increase	15/12/2007

More photos can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ndu/