Foodtown managers get extra pay

Press, 26 May 1984, Page 7

Foodtown managers get extra pay

PA Auckland Foodtown has raised the pay of the managers of its 23 supermarkets for working extra hours. However, the company will not join retail unions to ask for an exemption from the wage freeze for its workers. Foodtown’s joint managing director, Mr Graeme Kelly, has said, “There have been increases in management responsibilities as a consequence of our sales trading for longer periods. We’ve recognised these responsibilities in remuneration.” Foodtown began offering

more late-night shopping from November and all day Saturday from May 14. The Northern Butchers’ and Grocers’ Union and the Auckland Shop Employees’ Union want Foodtown to join them to ask the Government for a wage-freeze exemption. The unions want to negotiate about work conditions regarding all-day Saturday trading, which are not covered in the award. Mr Kelly said, ‘‘We believe there has not been ahy change of magnitude which justifies exemption from national laws. We don’t believe an approach to the Government for exemption

is justified. “If the award is examined you see many provisions in it which deal with Saturday trading.” The Minister of Labour, Mr Bolger, turned down the unions’ application for an exemption because it was not made jointly with Foodtown, and because the award comtemplated Saturday trading. The unions’ advocate, Mr Rob Campbell, said there were many problems resulting from all-day Saturday trading which were not dealt with in the award, such as if staff had to work on Sunday to stock up.