Workers Demand Fair Pay and Conditions Amid Prolonged Negotiations
More than 1,500 Woolworths warehouse workers have begun an indefinite strike, disrupting grocery distribution across Australia. The action involves staff from four distribution centers in Victoria and New South Wales, with a fifth center joining soon. The strike, which started Thursday, poses significant challenges to grocery supply chains ahead of the busy Christmas season.
The United Workers’ Union (UWU) reports that negotiations with Woolworths over pay and safety conditions have been ongoing for six months without resolution. Workers are pushing to abolish a controversial productivity framework requiring a 100% performance target, or “pick rate,” for item selection. This system, guided by automated standards, has been criticized for its lack of consideration for individual capabilities.
UWU