Burger King workers get new redundancy clause

Fast-food workers have broken new ground after Burger King employees accepted an agreement with a new redundancy clause.

Unite union workers at the food chain this week ratified the agreement which includes a provision for redundancy in the case of store closure.

The agreement was the first in the industry to include redundancy payments for workers in the case of a store closure, Unite national director Mike Treen said.

The redundancy clause means those employed for a year will receive two weeks' pay, and another week's pay for each subsequent year worked, in cases where a store closes and an employee cannot be redeployed to another store.

"We are very pleased with this provision which marks a new first for fast-food employees," Mr Treen said.

"Their jobs are still low-paid, casualised work with no guaranteed hours but this is a significant step-up in improving their conditions of employment."

- NZPA