Fresh off the back of signing a new workers agreement with Australian retail chain, Cotton On, First Union members have protested “poverty pay” at supermarket, Pak’nSave’s Alderman Dr store in Henderson.

The picket at the Alderman Drive store in Henderson runs from 11am to 1pm on Thursday, with First Union showing up with a giant stickman  and a giant rat to press its point.

According to the outspoken union’s senior organiser, Bill Bradford, the company’s low pay offers mean Pak’n Save is beginning to earn a reputation as “Pak’n Slave”.

“Pak’n Save Alderman Dr offers the lowest pay out of all the unionised Pak’n Save stores in Auckland. Even starting from this low base the boss at Pak’n Save Alderman Dr is only offering workers a miserly 32 cent pay increase,” Bradford said.

“Revenue at Pak’n Save stores is eye watering. Yet workers receive a minimal share from the millions of dollars which pour through each store every year. Pak’n Save Alderman Dr can afford to lift wages for workers”.

“FIRST Union members will not sit back while they are kept on poverty pay. Pak’n Save Alderman Drive workers need a substantial pay increase to keep up with other supermarket workers in the area. Even with the minimum wage rising by 50 cents an hour that is not enough to keep up with price rises in Auckland,” he said.