500 Woolworths workers locked out indefinitely

Supermarket giant moves to reassure customers after it escalates dispute with United Workers Union and locks out 500 distribution centre employees on the NSW central coast.

Woolworths has locked out 500 distribution centre employees indefinitely after they rejected a revised wages offer the supermarket giant said equated to annual pay rises of 3.6 per cent over three years.

The supermarket giant expressed confidence on Friday that contingency plans enacted last week would keep shelves stocked despite the increasingly bitter dispute with United Workers Union members at the Central Coast distribution operations.

The Wyong workers are seeking pay rises totalling 16 per cent to bring their wages into line with the company’s Sydney employees that the union says are performing the same work.

The UWU said the lockout, which started last week in response to industrial action, was causing shortages in stores across the NSW central coast.
“This latest intimidation move is likely to worsen a deepening crisis for the locals who rely on the supermarket giant,” the union said.

“Workers were ready to make a deal on Thursday, but Woolworths wasn’t interested in going even halfway towards wage equality.

“The company barely improved its offer, with only a 0.6 per cent increase on wages, well below a meaningful move towards the 16 per cent needed to be on par with those doing the same job in Sydney.”

Woolworths said the average annualised salary for full-time workers in the distribution centre was about $83,000, and its offer of annual 3.6 per cent pay rises was fair.

Woolworths chief supply chain officer Paul Graham said the revised offer amounted to pay increases and allowances of 11 per cent over three years.

“We also accepted six further claims from the union, including those on casual to permanent conversions and worker classifications,” Mr Graham said.

“This was a show of good faith and demonstrated our desire to get our people back to work.

“Regrettably, the union refused to accept our offer and ­continued to push for a shorter deal and unsustainable pay increases out of step with economic reality.

“We want to re-open the site and get our team back to work, but that won’t happen until this is resolved. We urge the union to reconsider their position and start putting the interests of members ahead of their own.”

United Workers Union Logistics Director Matt Toner said the indefinite lockout was an “aggressive and totally unnecessary move”.

“It’s a disgraceful way to treat essential workers,” he said.

“Woolies has spat the dummy like a petulant child, and in doing so has placed supply into their stores at risk in a troubling time for the community. It’s time Woolworths treat their essential workers and the community with the respect they deserve.”