According to FIRST Union organiser Dennis Maga, union members at The Warehouse Manukau undertook a wildcat strike from 1430 to 1630 yesterday outside the premises after rejecting the company’s measly offer of a 30 cents wage increase.
“If workers accept the offer of a 30 cents wage increase then that would only lift the lowest pay rate to $15.32 – nowhere near the levels needed to support a family in Auckland.”
“Workers were so insulted with the 30 cents offer that they voted to undertake a wildcat strike,” says Maga.
“The Warehouse markets itself as good employer, but its wage offer means that the majority of staff will be kept at minimum wage levels.
“Workers at the Warehouse are worth more than a miserly offer of a 30 cents wage increase, especially when they are overworked due to deliberate understaffing in stores across the country.
“Our people are overworked and underpaid.”
First Union received a lot of messages from its 2000 plus members after the strike which revealed that the strike action had inspired them.
Maga concludes by pointing out The Warehouse can expect industrial action over the next couple of weeks at some of its stores while the union waits to hear the outcome of strike action.
