Woolworths New Zealand supermarket staff have ratified a new collective agreement that promises a 6.8% pay rise up to 2026.
The agreement introduces a multi-skilled hourly rate to enhance career development and offer more diverse and rewarding opportunities within retail.
The new deal stipulates that staff will receive a 3.3% pay raise in the first year, effectively raising the minimum hourly wage for supermarket employees to NZ$25.85. The following year will see an additional 3.5% increment.
The introduction of a multi-skilled hourly rate will see team members receive specialised training across three or more departments, earning a rate of NZ$26.35.
A one-time payment will be awarded to the workforce in time for the 2024 holiday season.
Full-time employees working 32 hours or more weekly will receive NZ$175, while their part-time counterparts with under 32 hours will receive NZ$80. Casual workers are the exception.
The new collective agreement takes effect immediately, with backpay from 1 July 2024.
Woolworths New Zealand managing director Spencer Sonn said: “At Woolworths, we want to be an employer of choice and make sure our team can have long and fulfilling careers with us. That’s why we’re investing in our team’s learning with a multiskilling programme that gives lifelong skills, more flexibility and critical foundations for a highly rewarding retail career.
“We’ve improved our team benefits over the last couple of years with additional grocery discounts, industry-leading parental leave and wellbeing partnerships. This agreement is another critical part of ensuring we retain great people and will have a truly positive impact on our team’s day-to-day lives.
“We’re pleased to have landed this agreement in a place that fairly rewards our team for the work they do every day and balances the current economic climate.”
Woolworths' supermarket staff are entitled to further perks, including discounts on groceries and own-brand products, discount days and special offers for Everyday Rewards members.
Parental leave provisions include 12 weeks of paid leave for the primary caregiver and four weeks for secondary caregivers. Support services from Grace Papers and Sonder offer coaching for parental leave transitions and mental health support respectively.
Woolworths returned to New Zealand in April 2024, officially rebranding its Countdown operations in the country.
