Thirty minutes before the workers took industrial action, they sent out a txt calling for support and in half an hour the workers were joined by 40 supporters, customers and members of the public. Workers from Queen St McDonalds, who were also striking for the SuperSizeMyPay.Com demands of $12 minimum wage, secure hours and an end to youth rates, walked down and joined the Starbucks picket.

220 Queen St Starbucks delegate, Hayley Rawhiti, a shift supervisor who has been working at Starbucks for 6 ½ years, said that support from other workers and her regular customers who chose to buy coffee elsewhere for the day, was encouraging. “New Zealand workers have accepted low pay for so long that they don’t think they deserve better. Most of the workers in my store can’t afford to buy Starbucks overpriced coffee on their current wages,” she said.

SuperSizeMyPay.Com | Unite! | Action at KFC Whangarei | Starbucks Strike in Nov 05

The three activists had secretly scaled the concrete wall during the night, evading regular security checks and an unexpected late night visit from cleaners. The next morning a protest began outside, with security puzzled at the interest by the film crew present with the top of the building. They were soon answered as the first of two banners came rolling over the top of the building. Shortly after, a second banner came down alongside two of the activists. [Press Release]

The rooftop door had been barricaded during the night and so police had difficulty reaching the trio. They eventually destroyed the door with a crowbar and sledgehammer, and brought them down 90 minutes after the protest first began. [Press Release]

More information about the Save Happy Valley campaign can be found at www.savehappyvalley.org.nz

You are invited to attend a free Public Rally to Support Low Paid Workers (Featuring Imon Star from Rhombus, Olmecha, top NZ comedians, speakers and Rosita Vai from New Zealand Idol), 2pm – 4pm, Sunday 12 February, Auckland Town Hall, Queen Street.

The purpose of the meeting is to approve Unite’s bargaining strategy for all its members in 2006 and to get the whole community to support Unite’s SuperSizeMyPay.com campaign. The campaign’s three main claims are:

• A minimum wage set at $12 per hour (Even if workers are paid more than this, any success will help lift all wages)
• Abolish Youth Rates (Workers under 18 who do the same work as adults should get paid the same pay)
• Secure hours of work (Many workers never know how many hours they will get each week)

Workers published an add in the Dominion Post stating what situation they are in. Many workers at the Taylor Preston plant get $9.50 per hour – the lowest adult rate which can be paid in New Zealand. Many of the workers were harassed when the company called the police to stop the Union organisers talking to them. But in 1999 they began to hold meetings in a church hall in Porirua where the company couldn’t threaten them or take their names.

Not all workers have joined the union. Unionised workers voted to go out on strike by 297 to 16. After the picket tomorrow (Thursday) morning, workers will decide on future actions.

Links: NZ Meat Workers Union Media Release | CTU support | Labourstart | supersizemypay.com