International Socialists

Pak 'n Save workers in Dunedin, Christchurch and Timaru went on strike yesterday to protest at a 0% pay offer from a company that made a record profit of $227 million in 2009. According to National Distribution Union spokesman Paul Watson, despite protracted negotiations this year, Foodstuffs has so far refused to increase wages and merit pay steps or improve working conditions for the distribution centre workers. Workers highlighted the fact that while they were getting paid $450-500 a week, Foodstuff CEOs (the owners of Pak n Save) were raking in $18,000 a week. At supermarkets owned by rival Progressive Enterprises, that is the other giant in Aotearoa's supermarket duopoly, workers have won $5 more an hour for doing the same work. It is through industrial action that Pak 'n Save workers will win a better deal for themselves. Members of the Dunedin ISO were out yesterday leafleting and showing solidarity with the Pak 'n Save workers, and will continue to do so until the workers have their demands met.