Burger King workers across New Zealand started a strike on Friday, after months of negotiating with the company for higher pay and better benefits.
Unite Union National Secretary and lead negotiator Gerard Hehir said over 92% of the union’s members voted to go on strike. “They are sick of having some of the lowest pay rates amongst major fast-food companies, sick of working unpaid hours, sick of not getting their breaks and sick of Burger King not sticking to agreements,” he added.
According to the union’s figures, the hourly rate for Burger King workers is $16.88 – only 34 cents above the minimum wage. The union claims to have more health and safety issues raised by Burger King members than any other employer it deals with. It is calling for a system which allows workers to formally report H&S incidents without having to go through their manager (who is often the cause of the problem in the first place, the union said).
The union said it has been trying to get Burger King to mediation to resolve the issues. A meeting was set for 14 June, but the firm pulled a day before.
Earlier this month, the government said the establishment of Fair Pay Agreements, which helps design a collective bargaining system to lift wages and productivity in New Zealand, will be led by former prime minister Jim Bolge.
“Workers and employers know their sector best. By working together through effective engagement and bargaining cooperatively, workers and employers can set standards that are relevant to their sector and support productivity and growth,” Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said.
