About 400 distribution centre workers in Dunedin, Timaru and Christchurch have been negotiating with Foodstuffs since February for a 5% wage increase, and yesterday more than 30 workers picketed Dunedin's Pak'n Save, with larger turnouts at New World and Pak'n Save sites in Christchurch.
National Distribution Union organiser Ken Young said South Island co-operative Foodstuffs made record after-tax profits of $164 million and $174 million in the past two years and chief executive Steve Anderson was paid more than $900,000 a year.
"With profits rising each year, Foodstuffs should come to the table with a decent wage offer."
Mr Young claimed the recession was being used to prevent workers from earning a liveable weekly wage, noting that Foodstuffs' main competitor, Australian-owned Progressive Enterprises, paid workers a starting rate of $5 more an hour for distribution centre workers doing the same work.
