ALERT #7, 9-10-26: Ratification meetings

Alert: Ratification meetings

Kia ora Woolwatchers,

We were intending to come back to you from the beginning of next week to host report-back meetings about the company’s current pay offer. 

However, Woolworths have now contacted us with an improved offer that gives a slightly higher pay increase and gets rid of all their clawbacks (reductions to existing conditions in your contract). 

Therefore, your bargaining team have opted to change these into ratification meetings and will be bringing back a recommended offer for you to vote on, as we believe this will be the best offer we can achieve without industrial action. If the majority of members do not vote in favour of the offer, we will then move to discussing those industrial actions.

I want to extend a big thanks to the bargaining team of our Woolworths members for all of their hard work. It has not been an easy negotiation, but the team have stood strong and fought hard for all of you.

We look forward to seeing you at ratification meetings over the coming weeks.

In solidarity,

Rudd Hughes

Deputy Secretary, Workers First

---

ALERT #6, 2-10-26: REPORTING BACK

Alert: Reporting back

Kia ora Woolworths folks,

After 2 further days of negotiations between Woolworths and your Workers First bargaining team, we remain some distance apart from the company.

The key sticking points with the proposed deal we are negotiating are:

• Money – the pay offer on the table is still 3.5% for year one and 2.8% for year two. We feel is this not acceptable, particularly in the second year – given we have no idea what the rate of inflation will be.  

• Clawbacks (reductions to existing conditions) – a clawback on the entitlements of night-fill workers is just unfair. Changing the title of a job from ‘night-fill’ to ‘major fill’ should not mean you lose your entitlements!

• Leave reductions – we want a guarantee from the company that, if the current government are returned in November, their recent law changes to the way leave is paid out will not reduce the current leave entitlements for our members, and we need the company to agree to that.  If they don’t agree to that, it seems pretty clear that people will lose some of their leave entitlements.

What’s next

Over the next six weeks, union organisers will be holding ‘report-back’ meetings with all Woolworths members around the country. We will discuss the deal that’s on the table, explain the issue with leave reductions due to the law change, and take a ballot (a vote) for future strike actions. Once that’s done, we will have a clear picture of where you all stand on this proposed deal and we will establish whether or not there is a mandate for industrial action.

We will be in touch very soon with details on those report-back meetings.

Thanks again to our incredible bargaining team for the considerable work they have put into these negotiations on behalf of our 10,000 Woolworths union members.

In solidarity,

Rudd Hughes

---

ALERT #5, 4-9-26: This week’s roundup

Alert: This Week’s Roundup

Kia ora koutou,

After 2 more days at the bargaining table (making it 8 days of negotiations so far), we have an offer from the company that is a slight improvement on their previous position. The company are offering a 2-year deal with a 3.5% pay increase for the first year and a 2.8% pay increase for the second year. While we're happy to see progress, we still have a number of issues to work through and resolve. 

We're lined up for 2 further days of bargaining towards the end of this month and are hopeful of reaching a position where we can bring back an offer for our members to vote on.

A big shout out to the union's delegates on the bargaining team who have worked tirelessly and have been really engaged in the process, contributing to what has been, at times, a robust discussion.

We'll provide our next update as we head back to the negotiating table at the end of the month.

In the meantime, we are also negotiating two other Woolworths Collective Agreements at the same time. We were dismayed this week to hear Woolworths' proposal to 'offshore' around 130 jobs in the Customer Care Centre - meaning these jobs could be lost by our members and sent to Australia. Consultation has started on this plan, and we're encouraging everyone to provide your feedback by emailing workplace.relations@woolworths.co.nz - if you decide to do this, please remember to be polite and constructive in your comments.

Finally, we're also negotiating for our Store Management Team (SMT), and will provide another update to those members shortly.

In solidarity,

Rudd Hughes and the Woolworths bargaining team

---

ALERT #4, 21-8-26: Bargaining round complete

Alert: Bargaining round complete

Kia ora koutou

As promised, here is our update following this week's negotiations with Woolworths for your next Collective Agreement. 

After 6 days at the bargaining table over two sessions, we have an offer of a two-year deal with a pay increase offer of 3.2% on the first year and 2.75% in the second year. We will be working hard to improve that offer. 

We have got through a considerable amount of work but there are some sticking points, particularly regarding night-fill and the entitlements they currently receive. These are extremely important to our night-fill members, and we are working hard to resolve the issue with Woolworths.

We have 2 more days of bargaining set down for the 2nd and 3rd of September - we'll keep you in the loop.

In solidarity,

Rudd Hughes and the Workers First Union bargaining team

---

ALERT #3, 17-8-26: back to the table

Alert: Back to the table

Kia ora Woolwatchers,

The last 2 weeks have flown by, and we are back at the bargaining table with Woolworths this week on behalf of our 10,000 union members, beginning tomorrow and taking place from 18-20 August (that’s Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

By the end of Thursday this week, we should have a concrete pay offer from the company, and we can let you know what that is. 

Meanwhile, we still have a lot of our own claims (things we want from bargaining) still on the table, and hopefully we can get through those as well.

In other news, please stay tuned for an important retail-related announcement this Wednesday (19 August) morning – we will send you all an email at the time.

In solidarity,

Rudd Hughes and the Workers First Union bargaining team

---

ALERT #2, 24-7-26: first session complete

Alert: First bargaining session complete

We have completed our first 3 days of bargaining with the company and, as yet, we do not have a pay offer in front of us. 

Woolworths representatives only came in with 5 claims (things they want from workers / our union), which we are working our way through. We had 35 (things we want from the company).

The company have asked us to prioritise our claims into the ones that are most important. They have said that they want to provide a “meaningful” pay increase to workers. The union’s idea of “meaningful” may be quite different, but we won’t know until we have an offer on the table.

So far, the bargaining has been held in a respectful way, but we are moving towards the pointy end of bargaining where we start discussing the pay offer.

We are booked for further bargaining on the week of the 17th of August and that is where the rubber will hit the road. We’ll provide another update during that week.

We want to thank you all for your engagement and support – we’re united, determined and fighting for a better life for all Woolworths workers.

In solidarity,

Your Woolworths bargaining team

---

ALERT #1, 21-7-26: bargaining begins!

Alert: Bargaining Begins!

We’re happy to announce that bargaining for our new Woolworths Collective Agreement begins today; Tuesday 21 July 2026.

At the negotiating table, we’re seeking pay increases higher than the increasing cost of living, more sick leave and other pay allowances, more protections at work against things like the adoption of AI technologies, and a better working life for Woolworths staff.

Ultimately, we want Woolworths to return to being the market leader in supermarket pay and conditions, because in the last two years, it has been beaten by others like Costco and some New World stores, and is falling behind. 

This week, negotiations will last for three days. We’re unlikely to reach agreement right away due to the sometimes-contentious nature of collective bargaining, but we’ll keep you in the loop about what comes next.

Representing you - your bargaining team for 2026 are, from Woolworths stores:

• Mary Morunga (Warkworth)

• Jasmin Ahmed (Greville Rd)

• Parthiv Patel (Pt Chevalier)

• Leonie Kotlowski (Onehunga)

• James Good (Manukau City Mall)

• Chiina Taiapa (Te Rapa)

• Jeanna Dewar (Tokoroa)

• Mayke Baldwin (Katikati)

• David Green (Gisborne)

• Evelyn Atua (Rangitikei St)

• Lynda Sayring (Lower Hutt)

• Samantha Keeble (Grenada EStore)

• Shenaaz Khan (Nelson Junction)

• Michelle McKenzie (Church Corner)

• Fen Zammit (Eastgate)

• Marianne Taylor (Invercargill)

• Alternate: Naomi Wongchiu (Pt Chevalier)

From Workers First Union:

• Rudd Hughes (Deputy Secretary)

• Ross Lampert (National Organiser)

• Kaye Hearfield (Organiser)

We'll be in touch again soon with an update after this week's round of negotiations!

In solidarity,

Workers First Union

---