Workers at a south Auckland branch of The Warehouse called an impromptu strike today over the company's pay rise offer.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
About 15 workers at The Warehouse in Manukau walked off the job after the company offered a 30 cent wage increase, which the First Union said would lift the lowest hourly pay rate to only $15.32.
Union organiser Dennis Maga said the strike was sending the message that they had had enough and felt overworked and underpaid.
Mr Maga said the wage offer was an insult and meant the majority of staff would be kept at minimum wage levels.
The Warehouse said the union was being misleading by claiming striking workers were only offered an insulting 30 cent wage increase.
A spokesperson for the retailer said the rate referred to by the union only applied to 12 workers nationwide, and only for the first three months of their employment.
The Warehouse said the amount was still above minimum wage.
The union said the offer was not enough to support a family living in Auckland and the Red Shed's staff were being overworked due to deliberate understaffing in the stores.