Three arrests at supermarket solidarity picket in Lower Hutt

Three people were arrested at Lower Hutt Countdown at a solidarity picket today. A group of unionists, anarchists and socialists were blockading trucks from entering the loading zone in solidarity with the locked out workers in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. The Lower Hutt Countdown car park is used as the new regional distribution centre. The picketers managed to turn away many trucks. Lots of tooting support was received from people driving past, including a fire engine.

Police turned up and gave the protesters two minutes to clear the entrance ways - 30 seconds later two people were arrested by plain clothes police who pulled out pepper spray on other picketers. A third person was then arrested too for apparently 'obstructing police'. Picketers are planning to lay complaints against the police for false arrest once they have won their court cases.

The arrests were all unneccesary. The police have been very heavy-handed all around the country at pickets using naked and brutal aggression, to carry out the wishes of a foreign-owned company. We fully support the workers who went on strike for one collective agreement and a pay increase. Solidarity pickets are taking place across the country and the Auckland and Christchurch distribution centres are still shut.