Foodstuffs workers reach agreement for permanent work

Monday, 13 November 2017

Foodstuffs distribution centre store person Gino Kelly, 24, was among the dozens of workers that picketed outside the company's south Auckland facility in August.

Foodstuffs temporary workers have won the right to be offered permanent positions.

First Union and Foodstuffs, which owns New World and Pak 'n Save supermarkets, have agreed cold distribution labour-hire workers will be offered permanent employment within five months of completing training.

Foodstuffs chief executive Chris Quin says labour hire companies will continue to provide a valuable resource for Foodstuffs.

The new collective agreement means about 40 labour-hire workers will be offered permanent work in Auckland.

In August, 60 Foodstuffs distribution temporary workers went on a seven day strike for better work conditions.

* Foodstuffs allegedly threatens to fire workers who speak to union**

First Union spokesman Jared Abbott said the agreement meant labour-hire workers would 'go from near minimum wages to above living wages and from zero hour contracts to guaranteed hours and overtime rates'.

Foodstuffs spokesman Chris Quin said: 'Those who have completed our extensive three-month training programme and given five months' continuous service through labour hire companies will now be offered permanent roles'.

Current Foodstuffs staff will also receive a pay rise of between 10.5 per cent and 16.5 per cent within the next two years.