Supermarket staff reject company offer

The two unions at the heart of a 19-day dispute between more than 500 distribution workers and supermarket owner Progressive Enterprises yesterday rejected an offer to staff.

The National Distribution Union and the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union also asked the Employment Court to rule on the legality of Progressive's lockout action against the workers, who want a national collective agreement.

Progressive has offered a 3.5 per cent pay rise but insists the separate site agreements are non-negotiable.