Covid-19: Supermarket workers get pay bonus during level 4 lockdown

Wednesday, 18 August 2021

Foodstuffs frontline workers will receive a 10 per cent pay boost for working during level 4.

A union is calling for all essential workers to be paid more during the level 4 lockdown as some supermarket employees receive a temporary pay increase.

Foodstuffs, the country’s largest grocery retailer which operates New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square, would give all essential frontline, distribution and other key staff a 10 per cent bonus.

The company enacted a similar policy during last year’s level 4 lockdown. However, staff and unions were left disappointed when Foodstuffs pulled the bonus in April.

Foodstuffs North Island chief executive Chris Quin said providing the pay increase during level 4 was “the right thing to do.”

* Supermarket workers petition for 10 per cent bonus to cover level 3

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“Our number one priority is to look after our teams and supporting them during these challenging times is critically important. We are also working to increase staff access to vaccines.

“It’s a positive way we can show our gratitude for the critical work they’re providing right now to keep everyone safe and keep stock on shelves,” Quin said.

First Union secretary Jarrod Abbott said a business that could remain open during the highest level of lockdown should be compensating their workers for “risking their lives”.

Businesses that could operate during level 4 included public transport, pharmacies, petrol stations, food and beverage production, welfare and social services and emergency services.

It was a “terrifying experience” for many working during the lockdown, he said.

“They are frightened of having to obviously go home to their families, knowing that they’ve been in contact with hundreds of people each day,” he said.

He said it was disappointing supermarket workers’ pay would most likely be dropped again once levels change and would like to see the increase become permanent.

“There is something essentially wrong with people having to risk their lives when they’re not even earning enough to make a living off their pay. So the fact that these people should be getting a living wage is a no-brainer.”

Countdown, Z Energy and Auckland Transport did not respond when asked if they would also offer pay increases.