The union representing retail workers says if food retailer Farro Fresh is deducting wages from checkout workers whose tills are out, it would be treating its employees as thieves.

It's alleged the company has been deducting the wages of checkout staff whose tills don't tally.

First Union's Maxine Gay said if that's the case they're putting the entire responsibility onto workers when it isn't always something the workers can prevent.

"If they had a major problem, their normal disciplinary processes are enough to cover it."  

"What they're saying is that every single staff member is a thief or a potential thief."