The Farmers department store chain, which cut staff numbers and pay during Covid-19, needs to do the right thing now that retail sales have improved and pay its staff the living wage, First Union says First Union, which represents about 800 Farmers workers, is heading into collective agreement bargaining with the company in March. Farmers cut some staff pay by 20 per cent during Covid-19 last year, made some staff redundant and was paid $28 million in Government wage subsidies. Farmers is part of the retail empire presided over by Auckland couple Anne and David Norman. The NBR Rich List estimated the family’s wealth at $560m in 2019 through their ownership of jewellery chains Pascoes, Stewart Dawsons, Prouds, Goldmark, and Angus & Cootes, as well as homewares chain Stevens, Farmers, and bookstore Whitcoulls.