Woolworths shelves 'bare' as effects of warehouse workers strike take hold

Alex Mitchell

AAP

2 Min Read

2 hours ago

A strike by supermarket warehouse workers is having an impact on stock levels, the union says. Credit: AAP

Supermarket shelves are beginning to run bare, according to a union whose warehouse workers are entering the second week of strike action.

Up to 1500 employees across a number of Woolworths distribution centres in Victoria and NSW walked off the job indefinitely on November 21.

They are fighting for a pay increase, along with an end to a performance framework that the United Workers Union said is pushing staff to sacrifice safety standards in pursuit of faster work.

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The union said the strike was already having a huge impact, with “gaping holes” on shelves normally containing household and frozen goods.

“We are seeing bare shelves across the eastern seaboard now, we warned that this would happen if five warehouses took strike action,” national secretary Tim Kennedy said.

“Woolworths are squeezing shoppers at the register and workers on pay and conditions, while making ever increasing profits … this is contributing to growing wealth inequality in Australia.”

The union had demanded equal pay and conditions across all Woolworths’ distribution centres, asking for all workers to be paid $38 an hour in the first year of a new workplace deal.

Workers also say a framework that ranks each task they do out of 100 puts undue pressure on them and has a negative impact on wellbeing.

“Workers do not want to feel pressured to cut corners and work unsafely for fear of losing their job, Woolworths must prioritise the safety and well-being of workers above all else,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Woolworths workers are striking for a cost-of-living wage increase and to be paid the same rate of pay for doing the same work under a national agreement.”

Distributor Primary Connect said it had already put forward pay offers above local market rates, inflation and the award.

Woolworths has been contacted for comment.

When the strike started the grocer said it did not expect immediate impact to its shelves in NSW and Victoria, and that stores in other states would not be affected.