Supermarket distribution workers strike

More than 500 workers who supply the 165 Countdown, Foodtown and Woolworths supermarkets across New Zealand began a 48-hour strike at 5am today.

The National Distribution Union said they were taking action against Progressive Enterprises, which owns the supermarkets, for a single nation-wide collective agreement.

The workers want equal pay rates and all existing allowances combined into a site allowance of up to $2.50, an eight per cent pay rise and an extra week service leave.

The strike began in Auckland, Palmerston North, and at the two Christchurch distribution centres.

- NZPA