Good news for shoppers in Victoria, the ACT, and NSW – the strike that left many supermarket shelves empty is finally coming to an end.
Woolworths has reached a deal with the striking union workers at its distribution centres in Victoria, and the centres are set to reopen as soon as Saturday evening.
What Happened?
For days, Woolworths’ Melbourne South Regional Distribution Centre, Melbourne Liquor Distribution Centre, Wodonga Regional Distribution Centre, and Erskine Park Distribution Centre were hit by industrial action. The strike was led by the United Auto Workers and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association unions, who were fighting for better pay and conditions for the 1500 workers at the distribution hubs.
The Impact on Shoppers
As a result of the strike, many supermarkets across Victoria, the ACT, and NSW experienced empty shelves. Woolworths CEO Amanda Bardwell apologized to customers for the inconvenience, saying “We know how frustrating it has been to shop in store and online with us in recent weeks.”
The New Deal
So, what did the unions achieve? According to the SDA, the final agreement delivers workers a 12.84 per cent wage increase over three years, along with a $1000 up-front cash payment. Shift workers will also receive increased weekend penalty rates, and a $500 up-front gift card, with an additional $500 gift card for the next two years.
Getting Back to Business
Woolworths is now focused on restocking shelves and getting products out to customers. Bardwell thanked all teams across the Woolworths Group who worked tirelessly to minimize the disruption and take care of customers. She also praised teams in unaffected distribution centres who helped maintain levels of supply while the four sites were closed.
The Cost of the Strike
The industrial action came at a significant cost to Woolworths, with the company estimating it lost around $50m in sales since the start of the strike. The Fair Work Commission heard that about 40 per cent of distribution capacity at the four centres had been impacted, equivalent to two million cartons.
A New Chapter
With the strike finally over, shoppers can expect to see fully stocked shelves again soon. As Bardwell said, “We would once again like to apologise to our customers. We know how frustrating it has been… We thank all of them sincerely for their understanding and patience.”