Huge NZ retailer hit by strike: up to 850 vote to go out

Bunnings Mt Wellington. Photo / Supplied

One of the New Zealand's largest retailers is being hit by pre-Christmas strike activity, with up to 850 Bunnings workers planning action this week.

Strikes are on today and Friday at many stores across the country and the dispute is over rosters.

FIRST Union Retail and Finance Secretary Maxine Gay released a statement saying workers from 21 stores had met at 11am and voted to strike.

"This is the largest strike in the retail sector this year and disruption for Christmas shoppers is expected," her statement said.

Stores hit by the strike today and Friday in the North Island are at Botany, Takanini, Manukau, Mt Roskill, Mt Wellington, New Lynn, Glenfield, North Shore, Mt Maunganui, Te Puke, Whakatane, Rotorua, Te Rapa, Whangamata, Pukekohe, Paeroa.

Bunnings in Riccarton. Photo / Supplied

South Island, stores being hit are in Nelson, Blenheim, Dunedin, Riccarton, and Shirley.
Store meetings are planned on Friday at Palmerston North, Feilding, Gisborne, including Gisborne Trade Centre, Lyall Bay, Naenae, Porirua and Waikanae stores, the statement said.

Stores being picketed today from 1.30pm were planned to be Dunedin, Nelson, Christchurch (Riccarton store), Auckland (Mt Wellington store), Rotorua, and Whangamata.
Valerie Staley from the Bunnings Warehouse support team has been reported today as saying the company would be making no comment on the strike today, but if people wanted more information they should go to www.bunnings.co.nz/about-us/the-facts.

Maxine Gay said Bunnings's workers were sending a very clear message: they want a fair say over their rosters.

"Under the current collective agreement roster changes must be made with 'mutual agreement' between managers and workers. But Bunnings CEO Jacqui Coombes wants to hand managers the power to impose rosters on the workforce. This means rosters could chop and change with very little notice. How are you meant to plan for family time over the Christmas season when your rosters can change just like that. For working people family comes first, that's why up to 850 Bunnings workers are striking. Working people should not be denied the right to have a fair say over their roster. We're asking shoppers to let Bunnings CEO Jacqui Coombes know that family time is non-negotiable," her statement said.

Bunnings NZ has 25 Bunnings Warehouse stores, 19 smaller format stores and six trade centres.