As the festive season approaches, Australians are facing a potential disruption that could leave their holiday plans in disarray. Just weeks before Christmas, supermarket shelves are looking worryingly bare, and the situation may not improve anytime soon. A recent photograph taken at a Woolworths in Sydney’s Potts Point has brought to light the grim reality of stock shortages, reminiscent of the empty shelves seen during the pandemic’s panic buying episodes.
The root of the problem lies in ongoing industrial action. Strikes at four distribution centres have now reached the two-week mark, with members of the United Workers Union (UWU) on indefinite strike. The workers are demanding a significant wage increase—an immediate 25 per cent hike, followed by a further 30 per cent over the next two years. Additionally, they are calling for the removal of the distribution centre’s ‘Framework,’ which they claim forces staff to work unreasonably long hours in a hazardous environment.
The strikes, affecting distribution centres across Victoria and New South Wales, have prompted Woolworths chief executive Amanda Bardwell to issue an apology to customers for the inconvenience. Bardwell acknowledges the challenges faced by shoppers but describes the union’s demands as unreasonable. Despite the ongoing negotiations, Woolworths has not yet agreed to the union’s terms.
‘We’re working on it, day and night… to try and get a breakthrough so our team can get back to work at those distribution centres,’ Bardwell stated, emphasising the urgency of resolving the issue so that employees can return to work and restock shelves in time for the holiday rush.
The impact of the strikes extends beyond Woolworths, with Endeavour Group—operator of alcohol retailers Dan Murphy’s and BWS bottle shops—also reporting stock shortages. Endeavour, which was once part of Woolworths and still uses some of its distribution centres, is experiencing disruptions in select stores, particularly in Victoria and southern NSW. While some locations are facing minimal disruption, others may see a decrease in the frequency of stock deliveries.
The UWU is also protesting against Woolworths’ Coaching and Productivity Framework, which mandates a 100 per cent achievement rate in picking items from shelves at speed. Failure to meet this standard can lead to disciplinary action or counselling. The framework also imposes strict surveillance on employees, with limited breaks for rest, meals, and even toilet use.
UWU national secretary Tim Kennedy has been vocal about the need to abolish the ‘Framework,’ citing the increased risk it poses in an already dangerous industry. Kennedy argues that while corporations like Woolworths have seen profits soar, workers have been left to grapple with wage stagnation and rising prices, leaving them worse off than a decade ago.
How are you planning to navigate the potential disruptions this holiday season? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below, and let’s help each other have a wonderful Christmas!
I’m sick of hearing about the ceo’s and director boards earning ridiculous salaries and bonuses in this country……nobody is worth those astronomical $ amounts. Having said that, the attitude of the labour engineered, unionised work force is getting greedy (in my humble opinion). Us Australians need to be very careful that we don’t get far too greedy and lazy, hiding behind unions and leaving the door open to any others, especially the Asians and Africans, who are hard workers and are prepared to do the extra time at a lower rate…it’s a little scary but working Australians need to find a balance.
Having had a family member working in one of those big ‘state of the art’ distribution warehouses I can only agree with the Union when it comes to the safety aspects and Draconian surveillance of employees’ rights to reasonable breaks of that ‘Framework’. This person was also the Union Rep/Health and Safety Rep for this particular site and it was frightening to hear of the attitudes of management. There were numerous near misses due to the Framework which ”mandates a 100 per cent achievement rate in picking items from shelves at speed”. Without going into too much detail, think of picking heavy items from significant height, maneuvering laden forklifts with another worker attempting to keep up with the expected rate right behind you, then when you do get a break, having to walk a significant distance in a huge warehouse to the breakout area (or toilet), gulp down your lunch and get back to work. Water coolers were regularly out of order during the summer, so workers would have to take extra time to find one they could use. Of course all these things would be covered up or miraculously fixed whenever a visit was arranged by Workcover. Perhaps what the workers are asking in regards to a pay increase is a bit over the top, but if they were paid a decent wage and allowed decent working conditions productivity may increase! It’s not unusual for people in these jobs to be working at least two jobs to make ends meet these days which adds to the safety issues when workers are already tired. All this while CEOs and upper management are paid exorbitant salaries, bonuses and corporation’s profits skyrocket. The gap keeps widening.