Threat of shortages for Christmas shoppers as Woolworths workers start strike

More than 1500 workers at four Woolworths warehouses today have started an indefinite strike over a dispute about pay and conditions.

The work stoppages impact three distribution centres in Victoria and one in New South Wales, and threaten to play havoc with supermarket supplies in the lead-up to Christmas.

The United Workers Union (UWU) says it wants all workers paid at least $38 per hour in the first year of a new workplace agreement, with percentage wage increases in following years.

It is also demanding the axing of the company’s management performance system for workers, which it claims is unsafe.

UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy says workers are struggling to make ends meet, with rising prices biting into the spending power of current wages.

“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.

“No one wants to see bare supermarket shelves in the lead up to Christmas. Woolworths can fix this by coming back to the table and negotiating a fair agreement.”

More than 1500 UWU members last week halted work for an hour across every shift, and voted to take indefinite strike action at the four warehouses as part of their campaign.

There are concerns the strike could have a significant impact on stocks of essentials such as milk, butter toilet paper, cereals and toiletries.

Alcohol supplies could also be affected because one of the distribution centres delivers beer, wine and spirits to BWS and Dan Murphy’s outlets.

But Woolworths Group’s supply chain arm, Primary Connect, said today it did not expect an immediate impact to stores in NSW and Victoria. Supermarkets in other states and territories would not be impacted.

“Maintaining supply for customers is our priority in the lead-up to Christmas,” a spokesperson said.

“We have extensive contingency plans in place to minimise any ongoing impact to customers.”

Back-up measures include significantly increasing stock levels in stores serviced by the affected distribution centres, and using the company’s other 20 warehouses and 8000 workers to ensure regular deliveries to stores.

“We have already put forward several offers with competitive pay that is above industry standards, above local market rates, and well above the award,” the spokesperson said.