Retail

The retail workers’ union says few countries have shopping laws as deregulated as New Zealand, and yet more of Parliament’s time will be wasted if a new bill on Easter trading is drawn from the ballot.

Tau Henare has today announced he will submit a member’s bill to allow shop trading on Good Friday.

Retail workers dearly value the few close-down days each year they get guaranteed time off to see their families, their union said today.

Christmas Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the morning of Anzac Day are the only days each year affected by shop trading restrictions.

“These three and a half shopping-free-days are the only ones when shop workers know that they will not be under any pressure to work,” National Distribution Union General Secretary Robert Reid said.

BY SONIA GERKEN
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The Southland Times 

05:00 16/10/2010

National Distribution Union members at the H&J Smith Group-owned Invercargill Mitre 10 Mega took to the street yesterday to highlight the low wages they are paid.

Union organiser Ken Young said the workers were paid the lowest wages in the New Zealand Mitre 10 group and despite months of negotiations, the company refused to give its employees parity with the rest of the country.

"The union is claiming industry rates but the company is insisting on a lower local rate.

"Protesting is the only avenue left for these workers to earn respect and a fair living wage from their employer."

The workers were paid between $1 and $1.50 an hour less than Mitre 10 workers elsewhere, Mr Young said. It was no cheaper to live in the deep south and the inference was that Invercargill workers were less valued than their colleagues, he said.

The Mitre 10 workers who protested were supported by other Invercargill NDU members.

At the protest, Mitre 10 staff member and union delegate Lindsay Kelly said workers should not be disadvantaged because of location and the company needed to appreciate the experience and efforts of its staff.

Mr Kelly said his teenage daughter, who worked in a supermarket, was paid more than him.

Invercargill staff member Pat Hampton said she had worked in two other Mitre 10 stores and had been paid several dollars more an hour.

She hoped the Invercargill company would listen to staff and raise wages.

Invercargill Mitre 10 Mega Store general manager Jason Smith said in a written statement store management was upset at the protest action and had been working to conclude an agreement with union members since March.

"(We) have met repeatedly to attempt to progress these negotiations. Our offer, which we consider to be a fair and reasonable one given the current market conditions in our retail business, remains on the table for the members," Mr Smith said.

The company was "frustrated and bitterly disappointed" that the offer was not considered sufficient, but it was the best that could be provided under the conditions, he said.

"We are frustrated and bitterly disappointed that the union and union members believe this offer is not considered sufficient, but we have provided the best offer we are able to under the conditions."

"These are difficult times for many sectors, including retail, our farming customers and families as a whole, so we maintain an open mind to resuming negotiations quickly to conclude this agreement," Mr Smith said.

It wouldn't be a bad job. Surrounded by makeup and perfume all day but one of New Zealand's biggest retailers can't seem to get anyone to do it.

As the unemployment rate reaches a 10-year high, with the number of unemployed people now standing at 168,000, Farmers is struggling to fill 30 jobs manning its beauty and fragrance counters.

The human resources department has been reduced to running recruitment evenings in Hamilton and Auckland to inform candidates about a career in the beauty industry and to identify the qualities that make sales professionals.

"We're interested in hearing from new beauty graduates, seasoned industry professionals and sales professionals looking for a change in industry," says Sheila Naidoo, head of HR for Farmers. According to recent statistics from the Department of Labour, there should be an overload of retail workers in the job market, said Ms Naidoo.

"Even if they don't have beauty industry experience, if they have a passion for beauty products and a desire to work with prestigious brands, we can train them," she said.

Lorraine Reay, Clinique counter manager at Farmers, Hamilton city store, prides herself on being able to connect with people.

"Being a counter manager is a bit like being a successful real estate agent. You have to think of yourself as being self-employed, even though you work for Farmers."

Ms Naidoo said Farmers was looking for staff like Ms Reay who had come to Farmers with previous experience in hospitality.

Ms Naidoo said Farmers was willing to look beyond an applicant's immediate work experience to fill the positions.

She said while beauty may be considered more of a female industry several men were doing well at Farmers.

David Marris, fragrance sales professional, celebrated his sixth anniversary at Farmers Hamilton store this month.

Asked what type of person is suited to a career in fragrance or cosmetics, Mr Marris said: "A focus on customer service is essential . . . and of course a love for the product certainly helps."

Ms Naidoo said the recruitment drive would start at the new Farmers store opening at The Base, in Te Rapa, Hamilton on May 4.

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CAPTION:
Vacancies galore: Lorraine Feay, of Clinique, and David Marris, of Fragrance in a Farmers store where their products are sold. However, Farmers is struggling to get good employees for its beauty departments.
Picture: KATRINA BIELESKI

A Wellington retail worker says she hopes this Easter won’t be the last one she has off to spend with her family, amid fresh attempts to remove Easter trading restrictions from two National Party MPs.
 
National Distribution Union (NDU) vice president Margaret Dornan, a Wellington worker, said that many retail workers already had very little family time, and taking away Easter trading restrictions would make it worse.