Three Farmers staff picket for Living Wage in Invercargill

Thursday, 4 July 2019

Clair Russell, Ken Young, Jocelyn Macdonald and Rivarna Stewart picket on Thursday for a higher wage.

Three Farmers retail workers picketed outside the Invercargill store for an hour to ask for a Living Wage to paid.

The workers, who are members of the First Union, stood with organiser Ken Young and had support from two other people from city businesses.

They want the Living Wage of $21.15 and the removal of a performance pay card review.

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Jocelyn Macdonald said she was the sole earner and wanted the living wage to live, keep a roof over her familys head and to put food on the table.

While Rivarna Stewart wanted more security and to be able to save an extra $20 a week.

'I do enjoy my job, I just want them to treat us like people, we're just living off pittance,' Stewart said.

Young said Farmers staff were the lowest paid retail workers in New Zealand.

'They use a performance pay card where someone does a review, they might mark you as excellent performer, it then goes to the national office where it's moderated, and part of their scheme is that they can only have so many percent of people that are excellent performers, so then it comes back that they're only achieved.'

'Only 18 staff throughout the whole country received excellent performance status.'

'It's designed to keep wages down.'

Farmers retail workers strike action has been on going for the past few weeks around New Zealand.

Christchurch, Hamilton, Mt Manganui, Napier and Upper Hutt stores also went on strike on Thursday.

Farmers have yet to respond to questions, but Farmers chief financial officer, Michael Power, in May, said it had been bargaining with First Union, which currently represented about 25 per cent of our retail staff since March.

'We do not intend to embark on a dialogue with the Union through the media and remain committed to bargaining direct with the Union in good faith,' Power said at the time.