Retail workers’ union slams parking charge for Southland employees

Southland employees have protested new parking charges.

Staff at the shopping centre will be slugged $5 per day under a new parking price system which came into force on Monday.

Michael Donovan from the retail workers’ union told Tom Elliott the charge is “exorbitant”.

“Our members are lower-paid workers,” Mr Donovan said.

“The majority of our workers are part-time and casual, so this has a big impact on people.

“The retail workers are the ones who make the money for the retailers, which makes the money for the shopping centre.

“Providing car parking for the workers who make the money for them should be a part of doing business.”

But Tom said it isn’t “written in the heavens” that employers must provide parking for their employees.

“In the CBD, there isn’t enough parking for everyone, so a lot of people don’t have the choice of driving in,” he said.

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