Warehouse Profits at Expense of Workers during Recession

Media Release from the National Distribution Union

September 11, 2009

The $8 million profit announced by the Warehouse is in stark contrast to the company’s attempts to give its workers New Zealand’s worst retail employment agreement says the National Distribution Union.

The Warehouse Group combined operating profits for the Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery increased by 5.3% but this was pulled down by the stationery division.

NDU Warehouse organiser Simon Oosterman says the company also increased CEO Ian Morrice’s income by $1.6 million to $3.8 million this year on the backs of its workers.

“During the last year the company has undertaken a major restructuring which has increased workloads dramatically and seriously disrupted workers personal lives,” he said.

“Instead of appreciating the sacrifices the workers have made to increase profits during the recession the company came up with a set of demands to reduce conditions during collective bargaining last week. These included a claim that would see workers having to change hours and days of work whenever the company wanted them to.”

“I don’t know how it is compatible with the company’s supposed socially responsible ‘triple bottom line’ philosophy to lead the charge to set the worst workplace conditions in the NZ retail sector.”

Mr Oosterman says that despite workers deep sense of betrayal at being forgotten about when it comes to distributing the fruits of their labour the union would continue with further bargaining sessions set down on the 17th and 18th of September.

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