Brisbane Woolworths workers to strike amid national wages ultimatum

Workers at a major Queensland Woolworths distribution centre will go on strike this week over pay negotiations, and they haven’t ruled out taking more action as the critical holiday period approaches.

Staff at a major Queensland supermarket distribution centre will strike this week, following in the steps of workers in New South Wales and Victoria, who last week went on strike and offered an ultimatum to their employer.

More than 1500 members of the United Workers Union (UWU) voted to begin indefinite industrial action from Thursday last week, at four of the Woolworths distribution centres, in New South Wales and Victoria, over pay and condition disputes.

The supermarket giant’s warehouse workers in Brisbane will follow suit and strike for one hour on Friday.

A Union spokesman said the workers will soon determine their next steps as the holiday season approaches, should Woolworths fail to present an improved offer, an annual increase of 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent.

A union spokesman said as Woolworth’s profits keep rising the workers wages are going backwards.

“Workers want everyone brought up to at least $38 per hour in the first year, with percentage wage increases in following years and a national agreement so that workers are paid the same pay for the same work,” a spokesman said.

“Workers are calling to permanently scrap Woolworths’ “Framework”, which is a high-risk management approach pushing workers to work faster, which could undermine safety in a very dangerous industry.

The supermarket giant’s warehouse workers in Brisbane will strike for one hour on Friday.

UWU National Secretary Tim Kennedy said workers all over Australia are struggling with being paid lower wages today than they were a decade ago.

“Woolworths workers want to be paid equally across the country. They want to be paid the same rate for doing the same work under a national agreement.

“It is crucial that Woolworths ‘Framework’ is shut down once and for all. This management approach has the potential to increase risk in an already very dangerous industry pushing people to work faster for fear of losing their jobs.

“Workers have voted in very large numbers to take indefinite strike action and will be deciding this week what their next steps will be in the lead up to Christmas if Woolworths does not come to the table with an improved offer.”

A Primary Connect, Woolworth’s supply chain business, spokesman said the strike at the Brisbane distribution centre was not anticipated to have any impact to customers in Queensland.

“There are no other DCs taking part in industrial action in Queensland,” a spokesman said.

“Maintaining supply for customers is our priority in the lead up to Christmas (and) we have extensive contingency plans in place to minimise impact to customers.

We value our team and are deeply committed to reaching an agreement as quickly as possible so they can receive the benefit of their new pay rates before Christmas,” he said.

The spokesman said Woolworths had already put forward several offers with competitive pay that is above industry standards, above local market rates, and well above the Award.

“The most common earnings for full time team members on the four DC sites is between $85,000 and $95,000. Our latest offers would have taken hourly rates at these sites to approximately 40 to 60 per cent above the Storage Services Award, and well above inflation,” he said.

Originally published as Brisbane Woolworths workers to strike amid national wages ultimatum