Farmers picketed in pay protest

A small group of First Union members picketed Farmers Trading Company's Dunedin store yesterday in support of calls for fairer pay for the company's retail employees.

None of the Dunedin store's staff was picketing when this group was photographed shortly after noon.

First Union organiser Shirley Walthew said some of the employees who voted in favour of the five-hour strike were either sick or not at work.

In other centres around New Zealand, dozens of workers walked out in support of claims for an increase in pay and the removal of the company's performance pay review process.