28 November 2005
Minimum Wage Workers Vote To Strike At Million Dollar KFC Store
Youth workers earning as low as $7.13 an hour voted 100% in favour of striking on Saturday December 3rd, 2pm at the
million-dollar refurbished Balmoral KFC store.
In a ratification meeting last Friday, Unite Union members from the store voted against the Restaurant Brands contract
offer.
“The Restaurant Brands contract offer included no pay rise and no removal of youth rates despite the companies intention
to upgrade 98 KFC stores throughout New Zealand,“ said SuperSizeMyPay.Com campaign coordinator, Simon Oosterman.
“The strike will highlight the exploitation of youth workers in KFC and throughout New Zealand, whose pay is ‘downsized’
solely based on their age despite doing the same work as other workers,” he said.
“Fast food chains are the highest employers of youth in New Zealand with 60% of the Balmoral store being under 18 years
of age,” he said.
The meeting was called by a KFC worker present at the Starbucks strike last Wednesday.
Currently staff at KFC have a starting rate of $9.50 for 18 years and over, $8.55 for 17 year olds, $8.08 for 16 year
olds and $7.13 for 15 year olds.
The New Zealand minimum wage for 18 years and over is $9.50, $7.60 for
16-17 year olds and there is no youth rate for 15 year olds
“Many young workers are working after school to help pay household bills for their parents, who are also often earning
under $12,” said Mr Oosterman.
“It doesn’t matter what your age is, any wage below $12 is a poverty wage,”
he concluded.
ENDS