KFC on strike

UPSIZE THOSE WAGES: As part of their strike action for better pay and working conditions Gisborne KFC employees picketed outside the fast food outlet last night and this morning.Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Gisborne’s KFC fans had to go elsewhere for their dinner last night as staff went on strike at 5pm.

Restaurant Brands, the owner of KFC, was notified of the nationwide strike action by the Unite union yesterday morning.

Unite said for the past week, members had voted on the latest company offer, and on a secret ballot to authorise strike action. Restaurant Brands also owns Pizza Hut and Carl’s Jr stores in New Zealand.

“After six full days of negotiations Restaurant Brands is still insisting on cutting the margins for skilled and trained employees above the starting rate,” Unite national secretary Gerard Hehir said.

The union said the vast majority of members voting this week rejected the offer, and 88 percent chose strike action.

It was a fight worth striking for, said Gisborne KFC shift supervisior and union delegate Memory Leach.

Ms Leach said 98 percent of KFC Gisborne staff belonged to Unite. She said the union’s goal was to close the Gisborne store for the whole weekend.

“There are serious understaffing issues. It is always so busy all the time at KFC, customers get to the point where they don’t want to wait and then staff have to also deal with the complaints.

“We believe they should be paid their worth; they all work so hard.”

Ms Leach said public support for the KFC workers who picketed outside the outlet last night was postive. Staff picketted until about 9pm and were supported by toots from passing cars and passersby, some of whom stopped to join the picketers.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” said Ms Leach.

The Gisborne outlet will remain closed all day today and possibly tomorrow.

“That depends on whether we get a call from Restaurant Brands and end the strike.”

Mr Hehir said Carl’s Jnr and Pizza Hut would be less affected because they were not as busy as KFC.

For the first time, salaried staff — half of whom belong to the union — were standing alongside their waged colleagues to take action as well, said Mr Hehir.

“The last pay increase offer for salaried members was less than 3 percent. Many of them already find themselves working for a lower hourly rate than many of the waged staff they manage

“The other major issue is chronic understaffing and RBL’s refusal to give managers authority to reduce services to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.”