Over 1,500 Woolworths distribution centre employees have commenced an indefinite strike, seeking a “cost-of-living wage increase” and improved conditions.
The employees, members of the United Workers Union (UWU), at three centres in Victoria and one in New South Wales have walked off the job, threatening to disrupt logistics ahead of the Christmas period.
Woolworths Group supply chain business Primary Connect said stock contingencies are in place, and they don’t expect to see any immediate impact from the strikes.
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“We are not expecting any immediate impact to stores in Victoria and NSW as a result of the industrial action, and stores in other states will not be impacted as they are serviced by their local distribution centres,” a Primary Connect spokesperson said.
“Maintaining supply for customers is our priority in the lead-up to Christmas.
“We have extensive contingency plans in place to minimise any ongoing impact to customers, including significantly increasing stock levels in stores serviced by these distribution centres and utilising the other 20 distribution centres and 8,000 team members in our network to ensure regular deliveries to stores.”
Workers are seeking equal pay across the centres, bringing entry-level rates to at least $38 an hour – or an immediate 14 per cent wage increase and 11 per cent for each subsequent year, which the group said was “significantly above inflation”.
Primary Connect said over seven years, workers at the four centres have had pay rises above inflation, “and the most common earnings for full time team members is between $85,000 and $95,000”.
The union also wants Woollworths to scrap its “framework”, saying it pushes staff to worker harder in an “already very dangerous industry” and is an unsafe management approach.
The Primary Connect spokesperson said the framework had been developed with “safety as an inherent component”.
“Our framework is intended to enable us to work with each team member to the best of their ability to ensure a fair approach to how we manage operational performance, taking into account any personal circumstances or abilities,” the spokesperson said.