Foodstuffs staff walk off the job

Foodstuffs distribution centre workers in Christchurch walked off the job today in another protest over their wages.

They stopped work at 2.30pm today to picket the suburban Northlands Pak'n'Save supermarket, owned by a Foodstuffs South Island board member.

National Distribution Union spokesman Paul Watson said the staff were paid between $10.39 to $12.14.

"This is not decent living wage and their employer can afford to pay much more."

Foodstuffs' main competitor, Progressive Enterprises, paid $5 an hour more for their distribution centre workers, he said.

The strike followed pickets on September 3 outside Foodstuffs board members' supermarkets in Christchurch and Dunedin.

The company's brands in the South Island included Pak'nSave, New World, Four Square, On The Spot and Liquorland.

- NZPA