Source: Workers First Union
WHAT:
Workers First Union members at Farmers Trading Company department store across Aotearoa will be withdrawing their labour and participating in a two-hour strike action and picket on Saturday after bargaining with the company for three months without progress on pay and conditions of work.
WHEN:
12:00pm – 2:00pm on Saturday 24 October
WHERE:
Pickets will be taking place outside Farmers stores in many main centres across Aotearoa, including:
- Auckland (Takapuna – Lake Rd entrance, Botany, St Lukes, Papakura and more)
- Tauranga
- Chartwell
- Hastings
- Queensgate Mall, Lower Hutt
- Lambton Quay, Wellington
- Richmond
- Blenheim
- Northlands Mall, Christchurch
- Invercargill
- Dunedin
WHY
Kirstin Miller, Workers First Regional Organising Director, said that union members at Farmers have been in collective bargaining with the company since July but are yet to receive a fair and reasonable pay offer, or progress any improvements to Farmers’ “cruel” performance pay system. Over 94% of voting Workers First members at Farmers opted to reject the company’s offer. The union has over 1200 members nationwide.
“Farmers pride themselves on being a kiwi institution,” said Ms Miller. “But if they really want to be taken seriously, they need to treat their workers fairly.”
“Farmers workers are already subject to unfair performance pay, and the current offer to union members works out as an average of 2.5% for a majority of staff – less than the rising cost of living.”
Ms Miller said the union also had concerns about the company attempting to limit back-pay for workers.
Two Farmers workers, commenting under the condition of anonymity, shared their thoughts on the company and tomorrow’s strike action.
“I’m disappointed that the company feels we are worth so little after giving so many years to Farmers,” they said. “The [performance pay] system is degrading and we are left feeling worthless.”
Another worker said: “Farmers, your “family store”, is how it’s marketed. All I’m saying is that healthy, happy families should look after each other, in good times and tough times.”