Workers to Join Skinny Santa Parade

November 20, 2008

Media Release from the National Distribution Union

Farmers' workers will join a 'Skinny Santa' parade up Queen Street in Auckland tomorrow.

The workers are protesting against a pay offer that gives most of them an increase of 20cents an hour or less.

The Parade is organised by the NDU and leaves QEII Square at 11.30 am. It will stop to deliver a petition to the Chairman of the Board of Farmers before finishing at Aotea Square.

Maxine Gay, Retail Sector Secretary for the NDU, says the parade is part of a union campaign for a minimum $15 an hour pay rate for all workers.

"Most Farmers staff are only paid between $12 and $13.50 an hour," she says.

"That is simply not enough to live on these days."

Ms Gay says there is a broad consensus that we need to stimulate the economy to combat a deepening recession.

"Paying workers a living wage would be a good place to start.

"Farmers could do their bit to hold up retail spending by making their staff a fair pay offer."

ENDS

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