Supermarket workers protest
Workers are claiming Pak’nSave should be renamed Pak’nSlave, after the supermarket giant refused to raise wages to the level of other supermarkets in Porirua.
After three months of negotiations, First Union members were offered a pay wage that was still more than a dollar an hour less than Countdown up the road.
About 30 people turned up to protest the low pay on Saturday and Sunday.
The group included teachers from local schools, two members of the St Anne’s Anglican parish and a giant inflatable rat.
Worker Sainima Risati has worked at Pak’nSave for eight years and was there showing his support for higher wages.
‘‘ The money that workers make there is so low. We need to support our families, but we can’t live on these wages. We’re struggling,’’ he said.
‘‘It hurts to realise we’re at one of the lowest-paid supermarkets at the moment. It’s not fair.
‘‘I’m a single parent – I’m doing this, taking a stand, for my son.’’
The supermarket pays most workers about the minimum wage, and First Union organiser Richie Morris said Porirua families and the wider community were being let down.
‘‘Pak’nSave can afford to lift its workers’ wages significantly, but instead the store is denying a decent income for Porirua workers to properly support their families,’’ he said.
Morris said he wanted people to shop elsewhere until decent wages paid.