Countdown workers 'stunned, shocked, shaken' after Auckland terror attack

Monday, 6 September 2021

Kiri Hannifin says Countdown staff have experienced more abuse in the past two years than ever before.

Countdown supermarket staff, already subjected to intimidation and abuse by customers during the Covid lockdown, have been shaken by Friday’s terror attack, says Countdown general manager of safety Kiri Hannifin.

Sounding audibly emotional speaking to RNZ on Monday morning, Hannifin expressed concern for the wellbeing of staff across the country after the stabbings at the Auckland store. Seven customers were taken to hospitals across Auckland, some in serious condition.

Sri Lankan refugee Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen carried out the Isis-inspired attack. Samsudeen was shot dead by police, bringing an end to months of constant surveillance and years of growing concern over his extremist views.

Countdown and Foodstuffs temporarily removed sharp knives and scissors from sale following the attack while they considered whether they should continue to sell them.

Ahamed Aathill Mohamed Samsudeen was shot dead by police after going on a stabbing rampage at Countdown Lynnmall, New Lynn. Six people were injured.

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Hannifin said staff were “pretty stunned and shocked and shaken”, and not just in the Lynn Mall team.

On Saturday, workers that had been at the New Lynn branch on Friday were called to a neighbouring store in Kelston, where eight trauma psychologists provided support. They also had support immediately following the attack on Friday night, she said.

The same support was offered to the team at the Central Dunedin store, as it had not been very long since four people – two men and two women – were seriously injured in a knife attack on Monday, May 10.

Support would be available to everybody who needed it on an ongoing basis, Hannifin told RNZ.

“It’s quite raw still. I think we’re still in quite a lot of shock, as is all of New Zealand.”

There was no indication yet of when the police would be finished with their investigation and the store re-opened. Staff would continue to be paid, she said.

Hannifin told RNZ that operating in level 4 lockdown was already “quite gruelling”, as staff faced aggression every day.

Hannifin had advised staff to call the police if they faced aggressive customers.

“Those who are expecting so much of us, I just ask them to be really kind and gentle to our team. It’s already tough enough.”

Tali Williams, First Union's retail sector organiser, said the union had been with the New Lynn workers on Friday and Saturday where feelings were still 'very raw'.

'People were feeling very shaken and I guess by Saturday the main thing seemed to be people supporting each other and coming together in a way that was very moving, I'm told, by our representatives there. Their main focus was looking out for each other and concern for the victims.

'Obviously everything isn't going be sorted overnight. But what I can say, and it was the same thing with the Dunedin attack, in the end what workers called for, they got.'

Williams said she did not think there was anything that could have prevented Friday's attack or the attack on another Countdown supermarket in Dunedin last year.

However, she said it did raise the ongoing issue of escalating customer abuse and staff safety.

'In terms of that existing abuse level, which is still awful and prevalent, that is heightened during lockdowns. Not all the products are there on the shelves, people get angry at them. They have to pack their own bags, so they get angry at them.'

Meanwhile, staff were already anxious, given their own exposure to the Covid-19 virus. 'It's more important than ever just to be calm when we go in.'

First Union had also been talking to supermarkets about how to keep staff security high with CCTV and security guard coverage and, vitally, having enough staff rostered on.

'The one thing that still comes out on top and that people always say, is what makes them feel safe is having other staff around.'

She said staffing levels was something that the union had had to discuss a lot with supermarkets and some had difficulty getting the staff they needed.