PB Tech is holding a "Black Friday" sale which the First Union says is aptly named.

﻿The First Union is planning to picket a PB Tech store in Penrose on Friday afternoon, accusing the privately-owned computer chain of "achieving its bargain basement prices through paying staff low wages".

Union organiser Emir Hodzic said the company regularly penalised its workers 15 minutes pay "even if they are only two minutes late" which the union believed was a breach of the Minimum Wage Act and the Wage Protection Act.

The retailer, which has 11 stores and also sells online, is holding a "Black Friday" pre-Christmas sale which the union described as a "dark day" for its workers.

"Despite months of negotiations, the employer has rejected each of their workers' claims for improved wages and conditions. The company is not offering any pay increases and has reneged on previously offered terms," a union statement said.

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PB Tech had struggled to attract and retain staff due to low wages and was now relying on migrant workers to fill the shortfall, it said.

PB Tech general manager Darren Smith said the company had 612 employees of whom 13 took part in industrial action on Friday.

"Despite negotiating in good faith for several months, we have been unable to come to an agreement these staff members are happy with and obviously we are disappointed with the outcome today," he said.

"Our employees are currently paid at a rate which is 12 to 19 per cent higher than market medians. We have also recently introduced several new employee benefits, which have been added to their existing health insurance," he said.

"We remain eager to work with the employees involved in this action to reach a resolution."

Smith said PB Tech's day-to-day operations remain unaffected and it anticipated there will be no disruption for its customers.

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