A trade union is calling on Foodstuffs and Countdown to keep paying workers extra money as much of the country moves down Covid-19 response alert levels.
Countdown supermarket staff have been paid an extra 10 percent on their hourly rate as frontline workers during alert level 4. Photo: RNZ / Veronica Schmidt
Under alert level 4 both of the supermarket businesses have paid frontline staff an extra 10 percent an hour in recognition of their essential worker status.
However, with everywhere south of Auckland now in alert level 3, First Union representative Tali Williams said these payments would stop.
"Supermarket workers are very much still some of the only people on the frontline customer facing roles in level 3 and that 10 percent should be maintained," she said.
"In fact it is our view that there shouldn't be essential workers on less that living wages, so this 10 percent should be locked in."
Williams said at the very least she wanted both supermarket chains to commit to keeping the pay bonuses in place during level 3.
Foodstuffs and Countdown have been approached for comment.