Story: Strikes and labour disputes

Sleeping in hammocks strung up inside the cool store, freezing workers occupy their workplace in Westfield, South Auckland, in January 1937. New Zealand’s first ‘stay-in’ strike was inspired by similar actions in France. The workers at Westfield and several other plants objected to continuing to work 44-hour weeks for no extra pay after the introduction of the 40-hour week for most workers. They won a bonus after the government intervened.