Rotorua staff join Bunnings strike

ON STRIKE: Bunnings Rotorua staff walked off the job on Saturday to protest against proposed employment agreements. Photo: Stephen Parker

Bunnings Rotorua workers took part in a national strike to protest against a "one-sided" collective agreement being offered to staff.

But the Australian-owned hardware giant said negotiations were still under way and they had no intention of making wholesale changes to roster patterns.

More than 30 people stood in front of the Bunnings store on Old Taupo Rd on Saturday waving placards objecting against their wage offer and proposed roster changes. The group walked off their jobs to coincide with strikes at four stores across the Bay of Plenty and 13 others nationwide.

"Bunnings is proposing a collective agreement that will hand [the company] the power to chop and change start and finish times without the workers' agreement," First Union Bay of Plenty organiser Kirstin Miller said.

"While the company is claiming it doesn't intend to make 'wholesale changes', if this is true then why are they proposing a collective agreement that will do just that?

"Workers in the Bay aren't going to let Bunnings lock them into a one-sided agreement."

Ms Miller said workers needed certainty and those who went on strike were calling on Bunnings to offer an agreement that respected their rights.

"They want an agreement that's fair," she said.

But Bunnings believed what they were offering was an "industry leading proposal" which covered wage rates and rosters. "Bunnings' offer will guarantee that team members will receive an absolute minimum increase of 4 per cent this year with a further guaranteed minimum of 2 per cent to be paid next year," the company said in a statement.

"Bunnings stores are generally open seven days a week with trading hours that start at 7am, and on the whole run through to 7pm, so flexibility for our team and customers is key.

"Bunnings is committed to supporting the needs of our valued team and providing a healthy work-life balance, as our team plays a pivotal role in providing this flexibility and delivering best service," it said. "Bunnings has no intention to make wholesale changes to teams' roster patterns. Any and all changes that take place do so in full consultation with the team member, with advance notice, so that any significant commitments can be raised and taken into account."

Ms Miller said workers went on strike after Bunnings refused to budge and First Union has invited the company to come back to the bargaining table.