Two First Union officials have been arrested last weekend for trespass during a protest outside Nelson New World. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions has criticised the police role.
“Nelson supermarkets should have nothing to fear from their workers joining together in union, and the police have no place in blocking workers from getting organised for better wages,” said the Council of Trade Unions in a statement.
A group of picketers and supporters were standing at the store’s entrance distributing pamphlets asking for better wages, whilst a giant union rat was inflated. Meanwhile, another picket was scheduled at Richmond Pak’nSave.
First Union underlined that collective negotiations had been stalling, as both stores have allegedly made ‘no attempt to bargain with the union in good faith’. Both owners, however, have denied all claims and expressed strong concerns about the union’s approach.
UNION PROTESTS OVER WAGES AT NELSON AND RICHMOND STORES
