Congratulations to the United Workers Union for what looks like a satisfactory resolution to its strike against Woolworths!
The Australian supermarket chain had tried to impose a "productivity framework", which would have required warehouse staff to achieve a 100% performance target when picking items at speed, known as a "pick rate".
After trying to negotiate with the company for months, the union called a strike (citing objections to the Framework, as well as other objections).
The warehouse workers, who had been on strike since 21 November, faced a major setback yesterday, when the Fair Work Commission decided that the union's picket lines outside its distribution hubs were unlawful. However, a new picket line of non-UWU workers formed again this morning outside the Dandenong South distribution centre.
Later in the day, Woolworths finally offered a more acceptable offer, which the workers have accepted. According to the UWU, Woolworths has agreed not to discipline employees for their speed of work, and to increase their wages.
In my opinion, this is a victory for all Australian workers. If Woolworths had succeeded in establishing such onerous employee monitoring, other businesses would have been forced to do the same, in order to remain competitive.
UWU webpage: https://unitedworkers.org.au/woolworths/
ABC "breaking news" article (with recent updates added at the top): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-07/woolworths-industrial-action-victoria/104697608
Reporting from The Age, which mentions this morning's renewed picket line: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/woolworths-strikes-deal-with-union-to-end-warehouse-strike-20241207-p5kwls.html
#Woolies #Unions #AusPol
The Australian supermarket chain had tried to impose a "productivity framework", which would have required warehouse staff to achieve a 100% performance target when picking items at speed, known as a "pick rate".
After trying to negotiate with the company for months, the union called a strike (citing objections to the Framework, as well as other objections).
The warehouse workers, who had been on strike since 21 November, faced a major setback yesterday, when the Fair Work Commission decided that the union's picket lines outside its distribution hubs were unlawful. However, a new picket line of non-UWU workers formed again this morning outside the Dandenong South distribution centre.
Later in the day, Woolworths finally offered a more acceptable offer, which the workers have accepted. According to the UWU, Woolworths has agreed not to discipline employees for their speed of work, and to increase their wages.
In my opinion, this is a victory for all Australian workers. If Woolworths had succeeded in establishing such onerous employee monitoring, other businesses would have been forced to do the same, in order to remain competitive.
UWU webpage: https://unitedworkers.org.au/woolworths/
ABC "breaking news" article (with recent updates added at the top): https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-07/woolworths-industrial-action-victoria/104697608
Reporting from The Age, which mentions this morning's renewed picket line: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/woolworths-strikes-deal-with-union-to-end-warehouse-strike-20241207-p5kwls.html
#Woolies #Unions #AusPol
Woolworths strikes deal with union to end warehouse industrial dispute
The United Workers Union declared victory and said they had secured a clause stopping workers being disciplined for failing to meet monitored pick rates.Lachlan Abbott, Adam Carey (The Age)
