A surge in net profit by the country's main retail banks late last year was made on the back of challenging staff conditions, bank worker union FIRST claims.

If small businesses can't afford to pay their staff a living wage, they should probably not be in business at all, a union leader says.

Labour is considering lodging a complaint about National MP David Bennett's attempts to gag FIRST Union during heated submissions on the Government's plans to introduce a youth wage.

First Union's finance sector secretary, Andrew Casidy, said executive pay at the banks was ridiculous and clearly "out of sync with the vast majority of workers".

Consumer electronics chain Dick Smith has rejected rumours it is slashing staff hours amid reports the retail sector is cutting back on Christmas casual workers.

Bank "super" profits have sparked outcry from unions and the Greens, who say the big four Australian banks are milking the New Zealand economy.

Bus drivers are people, not zoo animals" and need proper toilet facilities instead of having to rely on public toilets and petrol stations, unions say.

But bank workers' union First slammed his comments and said Australian banks often talked up their investment in New Zealand.

It is the 112th Labour Day today, but on the Left it seems there is a cloud over celebrations.

First Union says if the Government wants to help New Zealand's ailing manufacturing sector it must do an about-face on procurement and show a real commitment to buying local.