Youth rates spur strike vote by Wellington Airport catering staff

Catering workers at Wellington Airport have voted today to strike over youth rates.

Pay talks for workers stalled in December after their employer, US contracting company, Delaware North refused to negotiate unless it could introduce youth rates.

With the exception of Wishbone, Mojo and Fuel, Delaware North runs all catering concessions at the airport.

E tū delegate, Dave Chankee says: “I want everyone to have equal pay and the next generation will benefit from that.”

He says if Delaware North succeeds, “everywhere else will be affected because it will go like a chain: all the other services will want the same thing that Delaware wants – cheap labour.”

The starting out wage, also known as youth rates, is legal under certain criteria for workers under 19 and is 80% of the adult minimum wage of $15.25 – or $12.20 an hour.

E tū organiser, Daele O’Connor says Delaware North is looking to exploit the high turnover among its staff.

She says over the two-year term of the current collective agreement, which expired in December, 84 of 86 workers employed over the period have left.

She says unions have succeeded in persuading fast food companies not to pay youth rates and “it won’t happen on our watch.

“Our members are full-time, permanent workers with long service. If we allow youth rates, young workers will be exploited and employed to do the same job for much less pay.”

ENDS

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