The National Distribution Union has signed its second collective agreement at a Foodstuffs Pak n Save supermarket - this one at their flagship Lincoln Rd Pak 'n Save store, the largest supermarket in the country.
Pak 'n Save checkout cleaner and delegate Rina Waaka said that it was her worksite's first ever collective agreement and brings a substantial pay rise for her and her 400 co-workers in time for Christmas.
After a concerted push by the NDU, the Lincoln Rd store now has the highest union membership in a New Zealand supermarket and has won pay rates in line with the unionised Progressive supermarkets Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths.
Union members at the Pak 'n Save store won an average pay rise of $1.30 taking them to the new sixth month rates of $12.57 for adults, $12.83 for adults on nightshift, and $9.50 for workers on youth rates.
Youth supervisors have won pay parity with adult supervisors on the new rate of $13.00 and a separate youth rate for 15 year olds has been abolished giving an average pay rise of $2.40 an hour for the youngest union members.
The union also won an extra two days sick leave for staff employed for more than 5 years and a one off payment equivalent to one week's paid leave for every 5 years of service,
National Secretary Laila Harré says that the early Pak 'n Saves in the 1990's actively kept the union out under National's Employment Contracts Act, driving down wages and conditions across the industry.
"Our success at Pak 'n Save Lincoln Road shows the benefits of the Employment Relation Act's union access rights which have enabled the unionisation of some workplaces for the first time ever", she said.
"Early agreement with the Lincoln Rd employer over the process of exercising our union rights has enabled workers to win an average pay rise of $1.30 bringing their pay rates and conditions into line with unionised Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworth stores."
"This is major step in our ShelfRespect.org campaign to win back a higher standard in the entire supermarket industry," she said. "Winning a union deal at the flagship Pak 'n Save store is a signal of change in the industry and shows that legislated union rights and good faith bargaining pay dividends for low paid workers."
ENDS
* New Zealand's supermarket industry is a 'duopoly' of two huge companies - the Foodstuffs group, a collective of the individually franchised Pak 'n Save stores and New Zealands fifth biggest company and Progressive Enterprises which is owned by the largest Australasian retail company Woolworths.
Lincoln Rd Pak 'n Save delegate Rina Waaka on 027 245 4063
Simon Oosterman, Publicity Officer, 021 922 551
National Secretary Laila Harré 021 839 661
