Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
Five hundred distribution workers who supply the 165 Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets across New Zealand began a 48 hour strike at 5am this morning starting a weekend of industrial action against Progressive, says the National Distribution Union.
The Progressive’s Supply Chain distribution center workers began their 48 hour strike at 4am this morning in Auckland, 80 Favona Rd Mangere, 6am in Palmerston North, cnr Mako mako Rd and Mihaere Dr, and 6am at the two Christchurch centres on Shands Rd and Columbo St.
Workers are striking for a single nation-wide collective agreement with equal pay rates and all existing allowances combined into a site allowance of up to $2.50, an 8% pay rise and an extra week service leave.
Links: shelfrespect.org | supersizemypay.com
Friday, 25 August 2006
Press Release: National Distribution Union/ Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union
Five hundred distribution workers who supply the 165 Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets across New Zealand began a 48 hour strike at 5am this morning starting a weekend of industrial action against Progressive, says the National Distribution Union.
The Progressive’s Supply Chain distribution center workers began their 48 hour strike at 4am this morning in Auckland, 80 Favona Rd Mangere, 6am in Palmerston North, cnr Mako mako Rd and Mihaere Dr, and 6am at the two Christchurch centres on Shands Rd and Columbo St.
Workers are striking for a single nation-wide collective agreement with equal pay rates and all existing allowances combined into a site allowance of up to $2.50, an 8% pay rise and an extra week service leave.
National Advocate and Auckland Organiser Stan Renwick said that workers decided to strike after the company hadn’t responded to a week of go-slows and work-to-rule.
“Woolworths Australia has reneged on an earlier agreement to bring their four Progressive Supply Chain distribution centres into a single national collective agreement with equal pay rates and allowances,” he said. “Workers on each of the sites do identical work storing, picking and dispatching dry supermarket product. They are paid the same base pay rate, but have different allowances and benefits with Palmerston North earning up to $2.50 more than Christchurch and Auckland workers earning $1 more than their South Island co-workers.”
Mr Renwick said that the Auckland and Christchurch workers lost allowances and benefits after the original Woolworths distribution centers were closed in the regions 6 years ago. He said that workers were made redundant and some were rehired with new workers on lower wages without allowances and benefits.
Other ShelfRespect.org actions over the weekend:
• In Wellington, supermarket workers will picket Countdown Porirua at 11am this Saturday 26th of August.
• In Auckland, supermarket workers will join a community rally with pacific island music at the Mangere distribution centre, 70 Favona Rd at 12 noon, Saturday 26th of August.
• In Christchurch, supermarket workers will be joined by distribution and Meat Worker Union member’s from Progressive’s South Island meat plant at 1pm at the Columbo St Countdown on Sunday 27th of August.
ENDS
Contact:
Simon Oosterman 021 922 551 (Media Liason)
Auckland: Stan Renwick 021 716 630 (Organiser and Advocate)
Palmerston North: Dion Martin (Organiser)
Christchurch (Columbia Ave): Bob Brough (Organiser NDU)
Christchurch (Shands Rd): Wayne Ruscoe 027 591 0056 (Organiser EPMU)
Related
http://shelfrespect.org/supermarket_supply_chain_strikes_across_country
Comments
workers strike in mangere
The distribution center is absoloutly huge - the size of half a dozen football fields and its shut down! The workers are all up beat and getting support from passing trafic. Half a dozen cops making sure things dont get out of line. If you live in or near mangere head to 80 favona road and support these workers.
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
this is awesome!!!!!!!
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
Great snaps-good luck with the action
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
Power to the workers!
Video of drive by
Video of drive by
Drive by
Second day of strike action in mangere
Workers today entered their second day of strike action against progressives supermarkets. The workers are singing dancing and getting a huge amount of support from passing motorists. Almost every truck that passes and most cars are tooting in support and members of the local community are coming out in interest. The picket has gone on all night and is set to go right till early tomorrow morning. Those on the picket are being fed with barbecues and have tea coffee and juice.
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
Excellent stuff to see!
Simon can you (or whoever owns the copyright to that video) give me persmission to post it on Youtube? I assume stuff posted in the comments doesn't automaticly fall into the public domain like the articles on Indymedia do?
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
here are some comments collected from individual workers at the picket, Jared.
Woman member
I believe in honesty, I come here to work, and that's what I do. I\don't come here to eat my lunch. We just want justice and we want to
make everybody happy. We want pay rights. We don't want youth rates. I'm a mother, and our kids need to be looked after. Some kids out
there get paid $10 for jobs that adults get $30 or $40 for.
It's also about temping, with temps having it worse. Some of them have been here for a year and a half and they are not even employed
by the company. They have to work their butt out for a year and a half and then they might not get anywhere. Also the new bill (90-Day
probation) is crap. C'mon, it's 2006. Hallelujah!
Woman member
We have had families supporting us, and trucks and vans beeping horns. Our families have brought down food and breakfast, like bread
and pancakes.
This is the first time we have been on strike, and this is the only union we have belonged to. We had a 4.30-start yesterday and today,
and we were up until midnight. Some of the ladies went home at about 7 in the evening. It has been fun, and yep, it's good that
Palmerston North and Christchurch workers are out to.
Male member
We have only had 4 hours sleep, not much. We want a pay rise, a rise of at least 7.5 per cent.
Male member
Some of us have been here for more than ten or fifteen years. The main thing is that we get what we want. This is good for our kids.
We do it so we can get what they need, and also so that when they go to work they know to fight for their rights.
Male member
I've been on the picket line for both days and I've been working here for more than three years. I want to strike. Things need to be
much better.
Male member
This is pretty hard out, with a four o'clock start again. Hopefully I'll get away for a while tonight. But this is all pretty good, so
people know we are out here and know what's going on. Good luck to the members in Palmerston North and Christchurch. This is all part
of the same thing. We gotta be strong until we get what we want.
Male member
Some of the temps are here at the strike. A few wanted to work, but heaps of them are out here in support. At the end of the day this is for all of us. If they become permanent, then what we get they'll get to.
Male member
This strike is very good and it's all positive. Hopefully the result goes our way. But it's awesome. We've got a lot of support, a lot
more support than we expected.
Male member
I would say to the bosses 'Get real, society's changing, so get real or get fucked!'.
Male worker (Casual/Temp. Worker, unsure if he was a member)
I've been here for about one year and I think that I'll get a full- time job. So that's why I come and support.
As a temp we go faster. We have to pack a higher percentage, and reach a higher minimum. We have to pack a higher amount to achieve the right percentage.
Re: Supermarket Supply Chain Strikes Across Country
those quotes by workers are heart wrenching, the sincerity and honesty present on this picket line is truly inspiring. The workers are all warm and welcoming, it well worth travelling to support these workers.