JB Hi-Fi staff at the company’s Wellington store have engaged in a series of strikes and protests as part of a campaign by the Unite union to win higher wages for retail workers. The strikes are the first at one of the company's stores in either Australia or New Zealand in over 27 years of the company's history.
The Unite Union has been negotiating with JB Hi-Fi management for over six months for a collective agreement but the Australian bosses are refusing to raise wages for staff this year.
Most JB Hi-Fi workers are paid NZ$13.50, just $0.75 above the minimum wage, yet the Australian electronic retail giant JB Hi-Fi’s net profit after tax is expected to be up to A$120 million this year.
The retail workers first went on strike on April 16 and further strikes and protests have occurred, including on May Day (May 1). A further strike was scheduled to occur on May 8. For more information, visit Unite.org.nz.