Hundreds of union workers called on Aldi to sign a safety charter amid shocking workplace safety incidents

Hundreds of union workers stormed Aldi’s head office in Sydney amid shocking reports of workplace safety incidents that resulted in employees becoming trapped.

Hundreds of Transport Workers Union (TWU) members stormed Aldi’s head office in Sydney’s west amid shocking allegations of workplace safety incidents.

Retired health and safety representative Warren Gorman told the rally about workers who were crushed and trapped in a scissor lift in three separate incidents at Aldi’s Balgowlah store who needed to be rescued by emergency services.

He claimed one worker had his leg trapped in a hydraulic scissor lift well in 2021, and needed to be cut free by emergency workers.

About a year later a female worker was trapped by her arm in the same lift well, which had cut through to her bone.

Mr Gorman, who is a TWU member, said the woman would have bled to death if had not been for the pressure on her arm.

“The fire brigade said … this is a death trap waiting to happen,” Mr Gorman told the crowd.

About 500 Transport Workers Union members have protested outside Aldi’s head office. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Mr Gorman, a former health and safety representative at Aldi, completed a report and recommended that an emergency door be installed but claimed it was never done, resulting in a third worker becoming trapped in the same lift well. That worker spent months in hospital recovering from nerve damage and severed veins.

“Three people in one store, and Aldi would not act in the interest of workers,” Mr Gorman said.

An Aldi spokesperson did not comment directly on the claims, but said the supermarket chain

took any safety incidents, or reports of potential issues, very seriously.

“We are committed to ensuring our work practices are safe, including taking corrective actions when required,” the spokesperson said.

About 500 TWU members at the protest were calling on Aldi to sign a charter on supply chain safety or be roped into new federal transport reform laws that took effect this week.

The workers have demanded better workplace safety. Picture: NewsWire Handout

Under the new laws. the Fair Work Commission set standards to make road transport safe, sustainable and viable allowing gig workers and owner-driver couriers and truck drivers to access the Fair Work Commission for the first time.

In May, transport workers also served a claim on Aldi to commit to responsibilities as both a transport employer and client, ensure a voice for transport workers and work with the industry to lift standards in transport.

Aldi directly employs some truck drivers, but does not have a transport enterprise agreement to provide appropriate pay, conditions and safety protections.

The rest of Aldi’s transport work is contracted out to operators, but unlike Coles and Woolworths, Aldi has refused to negotiate a supply chain safety charter with the TWU to ensure all transport workers it engages have safe, fair working conditions.

On Wednesday, the TWU made its first applications using the new federal transport reform laws to begin reshaping the food delivery and last mile sectors, and create fairer contractual chains.

So far in 2024, 137 people have been killed in truck crashes, including 33 truck drivers.

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said it was time for Aldi to come to the table. Picture: NewsWire Handout

TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said it was time for Aldi to come to the table on supply chain safety.

“Shocking reports have come to light of significant worker injuries that Aldi refused to take seriously,” Mr Kaine said.

“It’s time Aldi listens to workers and gets on board or gets out of the way.

“To pass lifesaving transport reform laws, the entire transport industry came together to find a way to make this industry better.

“Aldi has continually stuck its head in the sand, and we’re calling on Aldi to work with us on safety in its supply chain,” he said.

“We are prepared to use new legislative powers to their full effect to bring outliers like Aldi, and other wealthy supply chain clients, into line.

“Aldi took truck drivers to court twice to stop them speaking out on safety — and lost. It’s time for Aldi to be on the right side of reshaping this industry, and work towards reducing the crisis in transport instead of profiting from it.”

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said workers deserved safety, minimum standards and respect in the workplace. Picture: NewsWire Handout

ACTU secretary Sally McManus said workers deserved safety, minimum standards and respect.

“At this point in history the TWU have been responsible for getting groundbreaking laws for all workers across Australia, especially for transport workers,” Ms McManus said.

“They are not sitting back- they have their foot on the accelerator taking this industry forward.

“We will not tolerate Aldi not co-operating with the rest of the industry in the interest of workers,” she said.

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said the sign of a bad company was ongoing injuries to workers in their workplace. Picture: NewsWire handout

The Aldi spokesperson said Aldi recognised their role as a key player in the transport industry and they took proactive measures to ensure that their commitment to driver safety was consistently maintained.

“Aldi has a Heavy Vehicle Safety and Corporate Responsibility Charter that applies to our supply chain, and aligns with requirements from SafeWork and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator,” the spokesperson said.

“We are committed to ensuring safe work practices and sustainability within our supply chain and work with all our suppliers and transport providers to achieve this.

“Aldi sets a high safety standard, and we take the safety of our employees, suppliers, transport providers and customers seriously.

“We have extensive processes and measures in place to ensure we meet our safety obligations. These include monitoring and auditing work practices within the transport chain and providing a range of robust reporting mechanisms so any safety breaches can be investigated and addressed.

“Road transport safety is, and has always been, central to our transport operations.”

Originally published as Hundreds of union workers called on Aldi to sign a safety charter amid shocking workplace safety incidents