Kmart workers to be paid living wage

Monday, 10 June 2019

The offer means all workers with 12 months' experience or more would be paid at least $20.55 and this would increase further to $21.15 in April next year.

Kmart workers who are members of First Union are being offered the living wage.

The deal would affect about 500 workers.

Union secretary Tali Williams is leading the union's Worth It campaign to achieve a living wage for retail workers.

'Kmart is an example of a retail employer who has agreed to offer living wages, proving that it can be done and it's the right thing to do,' she said.

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The offer means all workers with 12 months' experience or more would be paid at least $20.55 and this would increase further to $21.15 in April next year.

Hayley Allen, a Kmart retail worker from Christchurch, was a part of the bargaining team that achieved the settlement.

'It will change people's lives so that they can meet their basic needs and enjoy family life,' she said.

The deal also includes the conversion of labour-hire staff to permanent positions at the Kmart distribution centre after a maximum period of six months.

'Decent work is about fair wages but it's also about job security,' Williams said.

'The conversion rights won for the labour-hire workers to permanent, direct employment is a hugely positive change for the over 100 labour-hire staff currently working in the distribution centre.'

Members will vote on the offer over the coming weeks.